as in sprinkling
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 spraying
According to investigators, video provided by the dogs' owner showed a man approaching the fence and spraying the animals multiple times with what was later identified as pepper spray.
—
Sergio Candido, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Video of the incident shows a man spraying an unidentified substance at Omar from a syringe.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The agent deploying pepper spray stops and walks away for a few seconds before turning around and spraying again.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
If the pressure relief valve begins hissing or spraying water, then something is wrong.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Near the end of her speech, a man in the front row jumped up and ran towards her before spraying her shirt with a syringe of an unknown, strong-smelling substance, according to C-SPAN footage.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The team suggests that this cloud may have been created when two planets orbiting J0705+0612 slammed into each other, spraying out dust, rocks, and other debris.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But instead of prioritizing touching the paint then spraying the ball out to an open shooter, the Knicks have spiraled into iso-ball, over-dribbling and tough shots.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The hand may have been made by tracing the hand (or using it as a stencil), putting charcoal powder into a reed like a straw and spraying the powder around the hand’s shape, or simply eyeballing it.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Sergio Candido, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Video of the incident shows a man spraying an unidentified substance at Omar from a syringe.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The agent deploying pepper spray stops and walks away for a few seconds before turning around and spraying again.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
If the pressure relief valve begins hissing or spraying water, then something is wrong.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Near the end of her speech, a man in the front row jumped up and ran towards her before spraying her shirt with a syringe of an unknown, strong-smelling substance, according to C-SPAN footage.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The team suggests that this cloud may have been created when two planets orbiting J0705+0612 slammed into each other, spraying out dust, rocks, and other debris.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But instead of prioritizing touching the paint then spraying the ball out to an open shooter, the Knicks have spiraled into iso-ball, over-dribbling and tough shots.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The hand may have been made by tracing the hand (or using it as a stencil), putting charcoal powder into a reed like a straw and spraying the powder around the hand’s shape, or simply eyeballing it.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spraying
Verb
-
And also sprinkling in those moments of Keisha.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Or more like an Aromatisse sprinkling the scent of perfume around?—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of dotting the same black scrim, like pinholes in a two-dimensional theater backdrop, the stars were scattered through space at dramatically varying distances, a vast swarm of them filling every last corner of an even vaster, more numinous, and emphatically three-dimensional darkness.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
With rows of sash windows dotting a vintage red and brown brick facade, Anmer Hall is the picture of classic Georgian charm.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
All of the familiar tropes are there, from the numerous pop songs peppering the action (including one by Phil Collins, just to remind you of Miami Vice) to the profane banter between the two main characters to the endless fights, shootouts and chases to the colorful villain.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The Hirons spent most of Christmas Eve peppering the area around 119th and Mission Road with signs.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spraying. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
