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
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Recent Examples of spraying
At Château-sur-Mer, a mansion in Newport, arborists from Bartlett Tree Experts have been spraying the canopies of the century-old beech trees in a race against time.
—
Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
To ensure that the solution doesn’t sit on the plants, spraying them down with water during the process is always the best option.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
The interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS is spraying enough water into space to fill 70 Olympic swimming pools each day.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Portugues grabbed a hose and started spraying the mail carrier, who called police.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Hassan had just woken from a nap and went to get water when a shell smacked into the dirt of the school’s playground, spraying shrapnel into his body.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
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
Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
To ensure that the solution doesn’t sit on the plants, spraying them down with water during the process is always the best option.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
The interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS is spraying enough water into space to fill 70 Olympic swimming pools each day.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Portugues grabbed a hose and started spraying the mail carrier, who called police.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Hassan had just woken from a nap and went to get water when a shell smacked into the dirt of the school’s playground, spraying shrapnel into his body.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
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
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 18 Apr. 2026.
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