1
2
as in splattering
to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy
the bus splashed us as it barrelled through the puddles
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in washing
to flow in a broken irregular stream
the spilled juice splashed over the counter and onto the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of splashing
The sink is prone to splashing and will wash any oil and vinegar residue away in no time.
—
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Don’t sleep on this two-pack of hummingbird feeders, which can hold up to 16 ounces of hummingbird feed each, or this popular bird bath that birds love splashing around in.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Continue stirring and splashing in water, aiming for where the flour has not yet clumped and shaking the bowl (or scraping down the sides) as needed to incorporate all the flour, until the mixture forms small, irregularly sized clumps, about rice- or pea-sized.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The boy runs toward the water as the pair explore and play throughout the deserted park, splashing in pools and moving through different areas of the facility.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
The boy runs toward the water as the pair explore and play throughout the deserted park, including splashing in pools and moving through different areas of the facility.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
Removing the adhesive wasn't as easy as splashing a little canola on Elmer.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
In the fall of 2023, the baseball world watched as Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald cannonballed into the water, star outfielder Corbin Carroll partied with goggles atop his head and manager Torey Lovullo dove headfirst into a pool, splashing water on the concrete above.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
After 10 days in space, the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth on Friday, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 13 Apr. 2026
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Don’t sleep on this two-pack of hummingbird feeders, which can hold up to 16 ounces of hummingbird feed each, or this popular bird bath that birds love splashing around in.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Continue stirring and splashing in water, aiming for where the flour has not yet clumped and shaking the bowl (or scraping down the sides) as needed to incorporate all the flour, until the mixture forms small, irregularly sized clumps, about rice- or pea-sized.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The boy runs toward the water as the pair explore and play throughout the deserted park, splashing in pools and moving through different areas of the facility.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
The boy runs toward the water as the pair explore and play throughout the deserted park, including splashing in pools and moving through different areas of the facility.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
Removing the adhesive wasn't as easy as splashing a little canola on Elmer.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
In the fall of 2023, the baseball world watched as Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald cannonballed into the water, star outfielder Corbin Carroll partied with goggles atop his head and manager Torey Lovullo dove headfirst into a pool, splashing water on the concrete above.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
After 10 days in space, the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth on Friday, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splashing
Verb
-
Nataliia had gone to the bus station, where soldiers were spraying foam to contain the nuclear fallout, and to the hospital, where men in white coats were unloading victims on stretchers from the backs of ambulances.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Keep your refrigerator spick-and-span by washing produce drawers with hot water and soap, and spraying all surfaces down with a disinfecting (but non-toxic and food-friendly) vinegar solution.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Spills, crumbs, and grease from splattering casseroles and bubbling pies can make a mess of your oven, and the oven racks aren’t spared from the turmoil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The fatalities are gruesomely entertaining, the opening murder splattering the audience with such brutality that my theater howled in delight.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the corner were two roofless latrines—one with the toilet and the other with a tap, bucket and footstool for bathing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Lisa Lane is the founder of Rinseroo, which sells portable shower heads, bathtub, and sink attachments for cleaning, pet grooming, and bathing.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Still washing dishes in the bathtub.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
-
An employee was washing their hands with gloves on.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its Morning Blue dial, hand-hammered in 18-karat white gold, is meant to evoke the sky at first light, though its shimmering surface also suggests the rippling sea.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The eye-catching structure is made up of rippling waves of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, giving the front-facing rooms semi-circle window nooks from which to take in the panoramic city views.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The massive amounts of debris that impact created then crashed back to the lunar surface, creating a tidal wave 11 times taller than Mount Everest and then sloshing around for two hours to form the outer two of the basin’s three concentric rims.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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The common factor in all of this is the Federal Reserve (albeit acting in very good faith in response to successive defense, financial and health crises) increased the amount of money sloshing around relative to the size of the economy to unprecedented levels.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No scene brushes up against the real world more intimately than watching the girls touch up their (clean, organic) makeup before the big dance, nerves bubbling over into jealousy and sniping.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Smiths’ songs keep bubbling up into pop culture, soundtracking films about giant robots (2018’s Bumblebee) and hitmen (2023’s The Killer) and influencing generations of bands.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
My grandmother just kept sprinkling water and stirring until all the flour gathered into loose clumps, no longer powdery but not yet sticky.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splashing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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