SPLAYS Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

splays

verb

present tense third-person singular of splay

as in spreads

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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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 splays Rogen splays himself, theatrically broken, on the floor. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026 Across the boat, a young guy with thin lips and a sweater tied around his shoulders leans back and splays his legs. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026 The Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale splays out in full shade from the condo buildings and strips of golden sun. — Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026 The sneakers feature Altra’s signature FootShape design, which splays at the front to give your toes ample space for natural movement. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for splays

Verb

The primary way the parasite spreads is via human feces, so a lack of toilets and sanitation stations in fields where produce and vegetables are grown and harvested can be a major source of Cyclospora, public-health experts say.

— Alice Park, Time, 8 July 2026
One small site can't match a hyperscaler's always-on uptime, so Cango spreads the reliability around instead.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of spreads

Verb

Flex is designed for the professional who splits time between the kitchen table, a coffee shop, and a hot desk.

— Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Just off the Little River, in the woodsy historic Sherwood Forest neighborhood, Northeast 85th Street splits in two around the mound, marked by a pair of signs.

— Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

Definition of splits

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splaying

splays

spleen

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“Splays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splays. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of splays

verb

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