PLYING Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

plying 1 of 2

verb (1)

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

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plying

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of ply

as in weaving

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 plying

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 Hunte himself is a big draw; he's often reclined on the balcony of his wooden plantation house, plying guests with his own brand of rum—not for the faint of heart. — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plying

Verb

But sometimes just thinking about tackling those jobs can feel exhausting, creating a barrier to success even for people who are highly motivated to improve their homes and their lives by exerting control over their belongings.

— Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 18 July 2026
Supporters argue that these efforts are necessary to preserve attorney independence, protect client confidentiality, and prevent investors from exerting undue influence over lawyers.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of exerting

Verb

Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.

— Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
The competition series featured masters of shamanism, tarot, face and foot reading, saju and other divination disciplines competing in challenges that tested their abilities, using tools including fans, bells, dowsing rods and modern-day laptops.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026

Definition of using

Verb

As Smith read Colt’s writings, the teenager remained expressionless, sometimes gently rocking and twisting in his chair.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
A lot of this work is almost unreadable now, the pained efforts of young eggheads twisting themselves into rhetorical knots over the moral conundrums posed by real-world applications of Marxist principles.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026

Definition of twisting

Verb

During the LolaVie styling session, Aniston also praised Cox’s hair while applying the brand’s Glossing Detangler.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of applying

Verb

Walking through the doors of Valkyrie Arms Training in Meridian, you are greeted by a large mural of 19th century women on the Western frontier, dressed in period gowns and gazing into the distance — and wielding firearms.

— Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
Things start off tense and get worse when a mysterious group of knife-wielding Aztec cultists show up to slaughter them all.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026

Definition of wielding

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ply

plying

plying (with)

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“Plying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plying. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of plying

verb (1)

verb (2)

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