as in spreading
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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Recent Examples of splaying
Weah often stayed high, with Miles Robinson splaying out to the right touchline in a traditional right fullback position.
—
Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Bob came out, blinking his eyes hard and closing his big fists tight, splaying his fingers back out in a pink baby starfish.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Bob came out, blinking his eyes hard and closing his big fists tight, splaying his fingers back out in a pink baby starfish.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splaying
Verb
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Panic is spreading in immigrant communities.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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By defining core beliefs, researching client needs, and training AI with personal style, creatives can scale content, prototype ideas faster, and free up time for enriching experiences, ultimately spreading their humanity further.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead of installing the usual front dinette, Eiffeland moves the unit to the center of the van, splitting the bed and kitchen areas with a two-seat transverse dinette set.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Jan. 2026
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While the House passed the DHS bill separately from the rest of the bills, they were all tied together into one bill to be sent to the Senate, meaning the majority of Republicans would need to support splitting the bill up.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An ice dam occurs when the snow piled on your roof begins to melt from the sun or the heat radiating from your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
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The classic, expensive-looking accessory instantly dresses up any outfit, with the intricate design radiating luxury and elegance.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splaying. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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