spray 1 of 2

as in to sprinkle
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sprayed the lawn with pesticides

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

spray

2 of 2

noun

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 spray
Verb
Keep your makeup fresh and flawless all day with ULTA’s travel-sized Matte Veil setting spray. Jené Luciani Sena May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025 Individuals can contribute money, water, sunscreen or bug spray, or volunteer at a cooling site. Bella Waters, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2025
Noun
Make a white vinegar spray (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) to spray and wipe down the walls after draining the pool. Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025 The video shows an officer spraying an unknown substance at Barranco, who is seen holding lawn equipment but doesn’t appear to strike officers in the footage. Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for spray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spray
Verb
  • With eviction looming by their landlord’s 6 p.m. deadline, these two embark upon a manic ride to come up with cash, with simple errands turning into shady pawn shop dealings, impromptu blood donations and sneaker hustles (with surprise celebrity encounters sprinkling their affairs).
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • At a typical gathering, one by one, each ingredient is added to the dish on a platter, with the host sprinkling nuts, seeds, spices and dressing over the salad.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Deer and moose munch on the shrub’s leaves and twigs.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2025
  • In sycamores, the spores often infect not just leaves but twigs and buds.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • Whenever the surface of the soil feels dry on top, mist or bottom water.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
  • Located just 15 minutes north of Olympic National Park, the resort’s tents are nestled in secluded groves overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where guests fall asleep to the rhythm of the Pacific and wake to sunlight filtering through towering conifers and coastal mist.
    Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Instead of paying for expensive updos, professionally applied makeup and florist corsages, Ella and her friends did it all themselves.
    Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025
  • In the video, Neil also tearfully hugs her late son's prom date's family, eventually handing the corsage to an equally tearful Reyaa.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The rest of the cast creates a convincing family, given and found, around our hero, and there are details aplenty that help the show stick: Jokes are peppered in consistently enough to recognize each character as much more than a vehicle for exposition.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 June 2025
  • The judge peppered Reuveni with questions: How was Abrego Garcia seized?
    Andrea Hsu, NPR, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Peach Ginger Bourbon Spritz At Saltwood Bar at Loews Atlanta Hotel, a refreshing blend of smooth bourbon and zesty lemon juice, topped with Betty Booze’s apple, ginger and sour cherry infusion, and finished with a fragrant mint sprig and lemon garnish for a burst of summer in every sip.
    Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Try it with: For an even easier pairing, just pour over ice and add a sprig of rosemary or basil for a garden party–worthy glass.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • In language as deft and muscular as Rosa’s team, Drexler captures the scent of the blood and the resin, every wisecrack and sob story, every flake of talc and gob of spit, every pimple and blackhead on the lady wrestlers’ thighs.
    Lauren Elkin, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • The pig is then placed on a spit and slow roasted for several hours, until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the skin outside becomes perfectly crispy and crackled.
    Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Joya had been allowed to pull the flouncy bit off her shoulders, like the singers in ABBA, but since my mother told me to keep covered, the top surrounded me sadly like a funereal wreath.
    Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • Vibrant, easy to clean, and sizable once it’s been fluffed up, the wreath can also take your fireplace mantel from underutilized to stunning in a heartbeat.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spray. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on spray

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!