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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Recent Examples of spraying
Dislodge aphids by spraying foliage with a heavy stream of water.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Eason recommends spraying water mixed with essential oils to repel bed bugs.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
Security camera footage showing a man allegedly spraying his roommate's food with a substance that left them feeling sick.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
As spraying increased, weeds resistant to glyphosate emerged.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Don’t soak it; over spraying only contributes to streaks.
—Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Images and videos flooded social media of immigration law enforcement’s violent encounters with protesters, including shooting rubber bullets, spraying chemical agents at close range and smashing car windows.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
The scale of the war effort had necessitated the creation of a health infrastructure on American soil—spraying for mosquitoes near the front lines in the Pacific wouldn’t mean anything if soldiers caught malaria at home before deployment.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Written and directed by Swift, the clip sees the singer fall in love with a fellow loner (Domhnall Gleeson) after spraying herself with a love potion fittingly called Opalite.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Eason recommends spraying water mixed with essential oils to repel bed bugs.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
Security camera footage showing a man allegedly spraying his roommate's food with a substance that left them feeling sick.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
As spraying increased, weeds resistant to glyphosate emerged.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Don’t soak it; over spraying only contributes to streaks.
—Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Images and videos flooded social media of immigration law enforcement’s violent encounters with protesters, including shooting rubber bullets, spraying chemical agents at close range and smashing car windows.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
The scale of the war effort had necessitated the creation of a health infrastructure on American soil—spraying for mosquitoes near the front lines in the Pacific wouldn’t mean anything if soldiers caught malaria at home before deployment.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Written and directed by Swift, the clip sees the singer fall in love with a fellow loner (Domhnall Gleeson) after spraying herself with a love potion fittingly called Opalite.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spraying
Verb
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This means there's lots of ways to add them to your diet, including blending ground flaxseed into smoothies or sprinkling whole flaxseeds on top of oatmeal.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
20 Feb. 2026
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Avoid sprinkling coffee on the stems.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In recent years, wind and solar farms joined the list, dotting farmland across the country and providing the nation’s fastest-growing source of energy.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Among the upscale mountain towns dotting the Dolomites, fashion and fur have been cultural staples for as long as anyone can remember.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With members of Congress still peppering the country and globe, the likelihood of bringing a swift resolution to the funding impasse is low.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Spraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spraying. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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