1
2
as in glimmer
a very small amount
the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shine
to emit rays of light
klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ray
Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
For mothers who love spending time outdoors, this cotton-linen hat will protect them from the sun’s strong rays.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2026
The PlayStation 5 Pro is a more powerful spin on the vanilla PS5, thanks to ray tracing and AI upscaling that give games a visual boost.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ray
Noun
Gamma rays are produced only when particles from these two states collide and annihilate—which means some of the dark matter must be in the excited state in the first place.
—Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
For mothers who love spending time outdoors, this cotton-linen hat will protect them from the sun’s strong rays.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Verb
After tracking a large school of Mobula rays for some time, Bingqiam Gao decided to try a different approach: Get ahead and wait.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2026
The PlayStation 5 Pro is a more powerful spin on the vanilla PS5, thanks to ray tracing and AI upscaling that give games a visual boost.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ray
Noun
-
At an event yesterday at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead—formerly the Homestake gold mine—project leaders and government supporters gathered to sign the first steel beam to be sent underground, beginning the construction of the facility’s detectors.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
-
With underground installation now underway, Fermilab’s next major target is delivering the first neutrino beam to DUNE by 2031.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Murdock appears to have accepted his fate, but a glimmer of smile hints that this is not the end of his story.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
With anti-slip soles, these lightweight sandals will keep you steady on your feet, while the simple yet elegant gold straps add a nice subtle glimmer and will keep your feet securely in place.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
5 May 2026
Verb
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This leadership follows a congressional report showing foreign adversaries are actively influencing American academia — shining a spotlight on Indiana and Purdue University, in particular, as both a model for reform and a case study in risk.—
Joe Gebbia Sr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
People throw rocks at things that shine, and life makes love look hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The flower, which radiates positivity and joy, encourages Leo to showcase their vivacious personality.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
Naturally then, many guests greet the staff like old friends, and this familial atmosphere radiates out through the casual grace of the hotel staff.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
His final journal entry is a geological interpretation of rain splash erosion.—
Robert M. Thorson,
The Conversation,
8 May 2026
-
Perennials are a great way to spruce up your garden and add splashes of greenery to your landscape.—
Adrienne Jordan,
Martha Stewart,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
However, in the wild, the algae are the ocean’s introverts, and only glow when they are bothered, like jolted by a crashing wave or the hull of a passing boat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
There’s an amulet (one of those glowing doohickeys the fate of the cosmos hangs on), and your heart may sink every time someone starts chattering about it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The reward for doing business without a speck of conscience is potentially billions.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
All morning extra-sized barges loaded up passengers from the Giardini, scooted around the Arsenale, past the famous glass-blowing island of Murano, and then approached the Island of San Giacomo—a tiny speck on a map, but quite formidable in person.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
This desire to find connection in loss hints that death can often be more tangible to process than estrangement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The first hint of celebrity Once America became an independent nation, its hatred for the crown turned into intrigue.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ray. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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