spraying

verb

present participle of spray
as in sprinkling
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sprayed the lawn with pesticides

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 In 2015, amid a familiar flood of Bud Light and Allstate commercials, football fans were inundated with cheap-looking testimonials—men in jerseys holding oversized checks and spraying champagne. — New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026 In Indiana, Meta relies on dry cooling and keeps power consumption down in hotter months by spraying a mist to cool the air instead of relying solely on refrigeration units. — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026 Broward County operates a robust surveillance, trapping, and targeted spraying program using patented technology. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026 Delicate produce like raspberries, blueberries, herbs and soft tomatoes can bruise under aggressive scrubbing, so University of Minnesota Extension suggests turning them gently in a colander while spraying them with cool water. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026 Avoid spraying cleaner directly onto electronic displays, buttons, or other sensitive components. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026 Agricultural drones whiz above a field in Heilongjiang, ready for spraying or fertilizing crops, lifting tools, and other uses. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2026 Several politicians and candidates, mostly Republicans, expressed their outrage after a man allegedly vandalized the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City by spraying red paint on the landmark earlier this week. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026 The couple then began screaming and spraying one of the children with a bottle of cologne, police say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spraying
  1. sprinkling
  2. dotting
  3. peppering
Verb
  • Burgess recommends sprinkling this powerhouse combo into overnight oats and atop yogurt bowls.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Try blending them into a smoothie, stirring them into oatmeal, yogurt, or cottage cheese for extra crunch, or sprinkling them over salads, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables to add texture and richness.
    — Lauren Manaker MS, HEALTH, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Verb
  • Walk alongside giant ornaments, snowflakes, and sleigh light displays dotting the pier, and get creative with free community craft workshops including edible snowmen, pinecone woodland creatures, paper bag puppets, and more.
    — Allison Yates, Midwest Living, 3 Nov. 2026
  • There are other tables dotting the store, where people can dine on sushi, sandwiches or a plethora of other delectable treats.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of dotting
Verb
  • For at least a month, the president has been peppering both executive actions and promises of cash payouts into his midterm campaign schedule and social media posts.
    — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Noe was eager to nerd out about songwriting and records, peppering the conversation with praise for everyone from the Ohio indie band Wussy to the country singer Ashley McBryde.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of peppering

Browse Nearby Words

sprayed
spraying
sprays
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Cite this Entry

“Spraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spraying. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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