1
as in excursion
a short trip for pleasure
a morning sally out to see the historic monuments around the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in laugh
something said or done to cause laughter
the final sally made her laugh, and that ended the argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sally
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Prices of stocks and bonds, along with long-term interest rates, have oscillated up and down in response to the daily verbal sallies from the White House.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2025
He was born into a rich family, and his father, the outer-borough real-estate developer Fred Trump, financed his early sallies into Manhattan real estate.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
The close relationship between Abe and Hudson really got under way after his first disastrous sally as prime minister in 2006–7, when everyone in Japan thought his political career was over.
—Arthur Herman, National Review, 8 July 2022
Both nominees would be vital to Democrats push to revive Net neutrality, the latest sally in a decades-long battle over whether all Internet traffic should be treated equally by providers.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Oct. 2021
And consider compromise that can bring most everyone to the table in agreement, rather than insisting on a quixotic sally into a windmill that might flip a body into the air and leave it to fall.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2021
Most recently, the Kremlin has settled on a strategy that involves legal sallies against international digital companies—including Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2015
Jacky Wong, WSJ, 20 June 2022
In 2018, for instance, an American aircraft-carrier sallied into the Arctic Circle for the first time in 30 years, during a huge exercise in Norway.
—The Economist, 16 May 2020
In addition to this, the two foresters cite other assaults: the beetle colonies that waited out the newly mild winters in the dead wood left by the high winds, and which sallied forth aggressively this year to attack new stands.
—National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2020
Cleander, who commanded the Praetorian Guards, ordered a body of cavalry to sally forth and disperse the seditious multitude.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 6 June 2019
In my own hopelessly romantic eyes, Dr. Hawking in the Copley Plaza will always be St. George in a wheelchair, sallying forth to slay the black-hole dragon.
—Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2018
So many people going to the game or other festivities surrounding the game are waiting for temperatures to safely rise above freezing levels before sallying out.
—Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 8 Jan. 2018
Noun
The Uber initiative is the latest sally in a long war pitting plaintiffs and their lawyers against businesses, with legal fees as the battleground.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Prices of stocks and bonds, along with long-term interest rates, have oscillated up and down in response to the daily verbal sallies from the White House.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2025
He was born into a rich family, and his father, the outer-borough real-estate developer Fred Trump, financed his early sallies into Manhattan real estate.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
The close relationship between Abe and Hudson really got under way after his first disastrous sally as prime minister in 2006–7, when everyone in Japan thought his political career was over.
—Arthur Herman, National Review, 8 July 2022
Both nominees would be vital to Democrats push to revive Net neutrality, the latest sally in a decades-long battle over whether all Internet traffic should be treated equally by providers.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Oct. 2021
And consider compromise that can bring most everyone to the table in agreement, rather than insisting on a quixotic sally into a windmill that might flip a body into the air and leave it to fall.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2021
Most recently, the Kremlin has settled on a strategy that involves legal sallies against international digital companies—including Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2015
Verb
That may last for a while as buyers who weren’t able to purchase an apartment during the depths of the pandemic restrictions finally sally forth.
—Jacky Wong, WSJ, 20 June 2022
In 2018, for instance, an American aircraft-carrier sallied into the Arctic Circle for the first time in 30 years, during a huge exercise in Norway.
—The Economist, 16 May 2020
In addition to this, the two foresters cite other assaults: the beetle colonies that waited out the newly mild winters in the dead wood left by the high winds, and which sallied forth aggressively this year to attack new stands.
—National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2020
Cleander, who commanded the Praetorian Guards, ordered a body of cavalry to sally forth and disperse the seditious multitude.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 6 June 2019
In my own hopelessly romantic eyes, Dr. Hawking in the Copley Plaza will always be St. George in a wheelchair, sallying forth to slay the black-hole dragon.
—Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2018
So many people going to the game or other festivities surrounding the game are waiting for temperatures to safely rise above freezing levels before sallying out.
—Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 8 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sally
Noun
-
The hotel plans to organize excursions to nearby wine estates for tastings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
For excursions to nearby river towns like Lambertville or Stockton, a car is helpful.—
Hannah Howard,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
But when the Phillies remember the good times — the champagne toasts, the boisterous October clubhouses, the laughs shared on the field in the clubhouse — Suarez will always be there.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Hammond spent a year at the Comedy Cellar trying to crack Al Gore and never got a laugh.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
After the United States and Iran failed to agree on the peace proposal on May 10, oil prices jumped $3 a barrel.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Sony — The stock jumped more than 6% after the company announced a joint venture with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to develop and manufacture image sensors.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Kouza, who owns a Pagani Huayra but opted for a Ferrari 296 for this supercar sortie went on to articulate the consensus of every participant.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
-
Completing a 180-day plan in 73 days suggests the aircraft performed consistently across multiple sorties.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Just ask Harris, whose handling of the border under Biden became a running joke in politics.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
-
Now, if there’s some people telling these jokes at a church service, that would be one thing.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
During the incident, a police officer was hit with a metal trash can thrown by someone in the crowd, and another was tackled by a suspect who wrapped his arms around the officer’s neck, according to a police department statement.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Haney is hoping this bill can provide an immediate response to an issue that many Californians experience and start tackling price gouging by ticket brokers and resale platforms.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort An eco-tour showcasing the hotel's lush gardens (watered with gray water) and native plants is available to guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
The tour is, after all, effectively a low-key declaration of independence.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The president has long bristled at the otherwise customary joking at his expense by celebrity comedians.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sally. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
