as in sprinkling
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
sprayed the lawn with pesticides
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Recent Examples of spraying
In the Ring video, a person dressed in black pants and a gray T-shirt, with a gray sweatshirt draped over his shoulder, chases two dogs down a residential street, spraying them with pellets from what looks like a gel gun.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Ahead, find the 18 fragrances InStyle editors are spraying on with abandon this spring.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
Use smooth, sweeping motions and work in sections rather than randomly spraying.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Stults recommends vacuuming first, wiping with a paper towel, then spraying and wiping with a cleaner.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Both experts suggest tackling odors with white vinegar, too, either while cleaning or spraying it in the air.
—Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) teams were standing by on the runway and video showed crew spraying down the aircraft.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
He is also accused of spraying another person in the face with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray without legal justification, and then failing to render medical aid.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Mixing a small amount of dish soap with water and spraying it on grasshoppers can kill them by damaging their outer layer.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Ahead, find the 18 fragrances InStyle editors are spraying on with abandon this spring.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
Use smooth, sweeping motions and work in sections rather than randomly spraying.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Stults recommends vacuuming first, wiping with a paper towel, then spraying and wiping with a cleaner.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Both experts suggest tackling odors with white vinegar, too, either while cleaning or spraying it in the air.
—Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) teams were standing by on the runway and video showed crew spraying down the aircraft.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
He is also accused of spraying another person in the face with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray without legal justification, and then failing to render medical aid.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Mixing a small amount of dish soap with water and spraying it on grasshoppers can kill them by damaging their outer layer.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spraying
Verb
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The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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Jacobs, 33, sits next to her, sprinkling something in while their son, Benson, wears a ghost costume and adds something else.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To recreate at home, use varying sizes of dotting tools, making sure to let each layer dry before applying the next.—
Georgia Day,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
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Come winter, beach towns like this one dotting the Atlantic Coast stretch of Florida surrounding Fort Lauderdale have long brimmed with French Canadian tourists and other snowbirds who arrive for warmth and sunshine.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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O’Leary’s just been peppering the house manager with questions about her business and admiring the replica of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that dominates the entryway.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
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Netflix is doubling down on film and TV from Argentina, opening a new office in the capital, peppering its slate with four new shows, and dishing updates on various others including the latest season of hit series The Eternaut.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spraying. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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