plying 1 of 2

present participle of ply
as in exerting
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

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plying

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of ply

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 plying
Verb
The 6-foot-2 goalkeeper has been plying his craft professionally for nearly two decades, having bounced around to nine different club teams in the process. Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 These challenges are why solar sails aren't yet plying the vastness of space. Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 31 May 2026 This allows local broadcasters and streamers to build their own packages around national stars plying their trade in the Premier League, and for PLP to ensure new content was available at the start of every new season. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 May 2026 The kitschy Bubble Room restaurant is serving up its legendary sky-high slices of cake, and Captiva Cruises has a full schedule of sunset, wildlife watching, and sightseeing tours plying the local waterways. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 16 May 2026 From there, the Amerongen sailed east, plying colonial trade routes around Java. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 14 May 2026 No one has been plying his trade on Katella Avenue longer than Terry, and that’s shown through in his leadership by example, his support of his teammates and his production. Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 However, in a preliminary list announced by the head coach this week — which previewed the names of players currently plying their trade in the Mexican league — a vacant spot was left among the goalkeepers specifically for players based abroad. German Fernández-Moores, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2026 Although by this point Garrison had already been plying the slammer trade for several years, Alfortish wasn’t shy about offering him tactical advice. Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plying
Verb
  • The announcement comes ahead of a visit to the United States by new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, with Washington exerting pressure on Baghdad to ensure the factions turn in their weapons.
    Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was not a new way of exerting and expanding power.
    Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Alongside Chase and her family stands film director Guy Ritchie; not as a badge‑on celebrity, but as a creative collaborator who has invested both capital and time in the project, designing the Wild Kitchen feasting tables and quietly weaving the whisky into his storytelling world.
    Lewis Chester, Robb Report, 27 June 2026
  • But over the nearly one-and-a-half years since the 2025 mega-fires, native and invasive grasses, bushes and trees have begun to regrow, weaving flammable greenery across the landscape.
    Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Andrade landed her double-twisting Yurchenko vault cleanly with a small step, earning a massive score from the judges.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • Scientists have discovered a new way to control quantum light sources by twisting atomically thin layers of a material known as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a breakthrough that could help bring quantum technologies closer to practical use.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Normally, credit bureaus tally any credit checks within a 45-day period as one credit check, and your credit score shouldn't go down more than several points when applying to multiple lenders.
    Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Madonna divorced from Guy Ritchie in 2008, before applying to adopt Mercy, and her adoption application was initially rejected by the courts.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • But one video posted to social media that appears to show a young man wielding a machete and counting down to the deadline has put migrants like Nyirenda on edge.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • Giving the president more direct control over who serves on those bodies has long been a goal of conservatives, who have objected to unelected bureaucrats wielding too much power with little accountability.
    Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Plying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plying. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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