ply 1 of 3

noun

Definition of plynext
as in bias
an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities since taking a ply to French burgundies, he's hardly even looked at anything else in the wine store

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ply

2 of 3

verb (1)

ˈplī How to pronounce ply (audio)
as in to exert
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively she plied all of her charm and intelligence to convince everyone to volunteer as tutors

Synonyms & Similar Words

ply

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to weave
to cause to twine about one another two single yarns were plied together to get the fabric that smooth, firm feel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ply
Noun
By then, standard-issue electric typewriters and six-ply carbon paper had been replaced by far less visually interesting computers. — Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 To make this a game-changer, Mitsubishi employed a craftsman hand-roll process using full-length, high-strength carbon fiber plies in internal layers, to create a super smooth bend profile for the best-possible feedback and feel. — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
In 2014, Andrew Tate began his pornographic webcamming empire, recruiting women by dating and plying them with gifts. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026 Ingenuity was a technology demonstration, designed to show that rotorcraft could effectively ply the thin Red Planet skies. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ply
  1. bias
  2. exert
  3. weave
  4. tendency
  5. use
  6. prejudice
  7. apply
  8. wield
Noun
  • In Utah, training starts with the basics of how AI works to teach an understanding of AI bias, hallucinations, ethical concerns and data privacy needs, Winters said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The whole mess perfectly highlight how AI models can further biases deeply entrenched in their training data from the open web.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of bias
Verb
  • Over the longer term, many economists expect AI to exert downward pressure on prices by creating efficiencies that make businesses more productive.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The president issued an executive order in March that moved to exert federal control over voter rolls and mail-in ballots.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of exert
Verb
  • This film weaves that footage with new images of his exile, a poetic documentary essay that refuses the urgency of breaking news.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Colman’s upcoming Wicker film, in which her fisherwoman character asks Peter Dinklage’s basketmaker to weave her a husband, garnered buzz after the trailer — teasing Alexander Skarsgård’s straw transformation — was released at the end of July.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • Emery knows that his side are robust when battling adversity yet need to find a way to rectify blind spots in their game, such as the tendency to drift through certain matches and against specific tactical challenges.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Catholics have frequently exemplified the best and worst tendencies of American society.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendency
Verb
  • The Triglav Lodge, Slovenia’s highest-altitude guest hut at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet), is using paper plates this summer to save water on dishes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of use
Noun
  • In that sense Cunningham’s view is largely seen as only further marginalizing a trans community already suffering from lack of understanding, prejudice and bullying.
    — Greg Cote August 14, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Tempered by generations of poverty, war, and rank prejudice, so many Afghan women refuse to be bowed or broken.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of prejudice
Verb
  • The pause that applies to data centers in downtown that are less than 350,000 square feet.
    — Ubah Ali, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The same principle could potentially be applied to other electrode materials to control multiple charge carriers.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Hope Davis as Nancy Reagan Hope Davis plays Nancy Reagan, who, beyond her duties as first lady, was one of her husband’s closest confidantes and wielded considerable influence behind the scenes during his presidency.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
  • With heavy machinery in short supply, a volunteer worker wields a sledgehammer in the search of bodies at the complex.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of wield

Browse Nearby Words

plutonian
ply
plying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ply. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ply

Nglish: Translation of ply for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All