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

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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

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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
The 38-year-old living legend plies his trade for Miami FC and hopes to lead Argentina to a repeat as World Cup champion in 2026. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 May 2026 Most percale sheets are made with single-ply threads, which provides its signature crisp feel, and the pima cotton make up has longer fibers than regular cotton for a gentler feel on sensitive skin. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
Verb
Although the crew did not ply Simpson with alcohol, Halpern argues that there wasn't any pushback. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Now, Iran said a pair of oil tankers hit naval mines while plying the Strait of Hormuz. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Sep. 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
  • Recruitment materials provided by the district promoted confidence-building and leadership activities, including confronting bias and challenging stereotypes.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Then, entities like White Circle could possibly form a coalition to help detect AI threats in real time, without suffering from biases.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bias
Verb
  • Hamas could restrict the system to exert pressure internally, the official said, while Netanyahu could restrict it to pressure Hamas.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Eventually, Alonso will want his side to exert control over opponents rather than embrace this Russian-roulette brand of football.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of exert
Verb
  • With a bigger budget from Netflix, Sy and Leterrier leaned further into the show’s superhero-like qualities, expanding its universe beyond the novels of Maurice Leblanc and weaving some futuristic elements.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Rubio weaves stories about heartbreak, drugs, and the slippery, occasionally hallucinatory process of finding your way back to your own life.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • For Guimaraes, a veteran community builder, the impulse behind Fashion Forward was born out of a sharp realization that the industry’s greatest bottleneck was its tendency to preach to its own choir.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The project places her among a wave of next-gen electronic artists like Ninajirachi, 2hollis and Jane Remover, all of whom are currently making left of center dance music with strong pop tendencies.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of tendency
Verb
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates US data centers used about 17 billion gallons of water for cooling in 2023, and that could double or even quadruple by 2028.
    — Adhum Carter Wolde-Lule, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • However, the available demonstration does not specify the training setup, how responsibilities the divided between the learning methods, or the precise control architecture used during execution.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of use
Noun
  • Of course, one is inevitably loaded with expectations and prejudices, but the ideal of letting the work teach you how to consider it, as the philosopher Stanely Cavell counseled, is a useful starting point.
    — Lola Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Misty is a long-ago Emmy winner whose career has slipped through her fingers, in part because of reckless behavior on and off the set and and in part because of racist and ageist prejudices in casting.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of prejudice
Verb
  • The approach applies manufacturing practices to research and development, allowing engineers and machinists to modify components and processes quickly as designs evolve.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Al Hassan wants renewal to happen automatically without needing to apply.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • An army of Janeites, no doubt wielding their worn copies of Sense and Sensibility, are marching into cinemas around the world to watch an adaptation for a whole new generation.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • For this leaner, meaner Deafheaven, stylistic variety takes a backseat to speed and chaos, and when properly executed, subtle melodic or rhythmic tweaks wield the heft of the more tectonic transitions in the band’s defining songs.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wield

Browse Nearby Words

plutonian
ply
plying
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Cite this Entry

“Ply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ply. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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