as in to spread
to cause to move outward and apart
He sat with his legs splayed apart. She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of splay
Furthermore, bare-root specimens will establish more quickly since their roots are splayed out when planting and can easily find their way.
—
Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025
In one TikTok video, the pooch is splayed out on her back getting a belly rub, living her best life on Earle’s plush bed.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Lamar walked through them, splitting the flag, and the people, who were now Black bodies, splayed on the ground like chalk outlines.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
In the back storeroom of the Olivera Egg Ranch in San Jose, Ed Olivera Jr., 76, gazed at miniature sepia and grey-tone photographs in an album splayed open on a long steel table.
—Jia H. Jung, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for splay
Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025
In one TikTok video, the pooch is splayed out on her back getting a belly rub, living her best life on Earle’s plush bed.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Lamar walked through them, splitting the flag, and the people, who were now Black bodies, splayed on the ground like chalk outlines.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
In the back storeroom of the Olivera Egg Ranch in San Jose, Ed Olivera Jr., 76, gazed at miniature sepia and grey-tone photographs in an album splayed open on a long steel table.
—Jia H. Jung, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for splay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splay
Verb
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Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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Some updates that have long been anticipated by eager users could, however, spread the risk of attack beyond just those folks using Gmail.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But Francis also contradicted himself and split some very specific hairs regarding LGBTQ+ rights.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
21 Apr. 2025
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Shortly after their divorce, Hurley announced her engagement to the Australian cricketer Shane Warne, and the couple split in 2013.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Splay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splay. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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