sprayed

past tense of spray
as in sprinkled
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sprayed the lawn with pesticides

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 sprayed The department added that is has sprayed insecticide in 15 different community areas over the last several weeks. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Throughout the years, Graham was sprayed by grout on a construction site and splattered with oil while cutting timber. Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Alex appeared to move to help her when officers pepper-sprayed him and wrestled him to the ground. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 As gunfire sprayed around them, Rajab’s cousin, 15-year-old Layan Hamada, called the Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic center, telling them that a tank was approaching and her family had been killed. Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The large truck could be seen on its side, surrounded by white foam after firefighters sprayed the area down. Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 There, sprinklers sprayed water across the track ensuring that our route, a coned course with tight, tricky curves and acceleration alleys, would challenge me at every turn. Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The seats are being shaken, water and scents are being sprayed. Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026 The screening process for the Bracero Program was invasive — workers were forced to undergo physicals to test their strength and were sprayed with pesticide upon arrival. Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprayed
Verb
  • References to Bond sprinkled throughout the trailer include Cage ordering that signature cocktail and packing a familiar-looking pistol, plus a gag at the end playing off Bond’s 007 designation.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Try different berries in yogurt, smoothies, or sprinkled over oatmeal.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The room was about three-quarters full, dotted with suits and open shirts befitting the private equity world that Black shaped as cofounder of Apollo Global Management as well as what could be called Upper East Sidecore.
    Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026
  • So many faux-drone overhead flights across the Thames, dotted with pretty little boats!
    Michael Phillips, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Before Warren even got to his lesson, the second graders peppered him with questions.
    Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The music that existed just outside his window and peppered his childhood.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sprayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprayed. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster