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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 splays
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
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
-
That's how informality spreads, and productivity dies.—
Ricardo Torres,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Measles symptoms can appear between seven and 21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a red blotchy rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to Harper's Bazaar, the royal family splits their time between the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen and the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace, located on the island of Zealand in Denmark.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Clarke, whose splits and underlying numbers were dominant again, set up Fiala for two shot attempts, the second of which generated a rebound and created a scramble.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splays. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
