sprays 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spray
as in sprinkles
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sprayed the lawn with pesticides

Synonyms & Similar Words

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sprays

2 of 2

noun

plural of spray
1
as in twigs

Related Words
2
as in mists

Related Words
3
as in spritzes

Related Words
4
as in garlands

Related Words

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 sprays
Verb
As the man with dogs and a second witness look on, an agent approaches them and sprays the man with the dogs. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 The easy-to-use machine simply sprays the area with cleaning solution, scrubs the carpet fibers, and extracts the dirty water and grime. — Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2026 Officials said the pesticide is an ultra-low-volume treatment that sprays approximately two tablespoons per acre. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 There’s Tanner, the middle of three boys who lives in his hometown and pilots a plane for the family business that sprays pesticides on crops. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 See & Spray uses computer vision to distinguish weeds from crops and only sprays the weeds, cutting herbicide costs in half. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 In a photo of West Pine Cliff Court, burned homes surround one still standing, as a firefighter sprays down the walls and roof facing the engulfed house next door. — Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 In the confusion, Paula is able to subdue Sky by nailing his hand to the ground and then sprays Ashley in the face with the dry shampoo before fleeing the scene. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 June 2026 James Riley sprays water to keep the dust down. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 3 June 2026
Noun
These are what Brown calls paint sprays and spray threes, two of Brown’s foundational principles of the new-look, high-octane Knicks offense. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026 To make new plantings a little more pest-proof, experiment with repellent sprays, like putrid egg solids, hot pepper spray, and humanely sourced predator spray. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025 Although products may be available in dust, granular form or sprays, choose a spray to get the best coverage on the leaf surface. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprays
  1. sprinkles
  2. shoots
  3. mists
  4. spritzes
  5. garlands
  6. dots
  7. spits
  8. peppers
Verb
  • Kemery sprinkles the tiny seeds either in late fall or very early spring, when there’s still a chance of frost, since cold spells offer the best germination.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • Thomson sprinkles critique throughout his book like seasoning unevenly applied to a gamey piece of meat.
    — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of sprinkles
Noun
  • Meanwhile, ongoing opacity around criterion hampers decision making for location shoots of every scale.
    — Gavin J Blair, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Green shoots then bloomed after seeing Matthieu Blazy’s spring 2027 collection for Chanel.
    — Pernille Teisbaek, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shoots
Noun
  • Accounting for 20 percent of total sales, the home collection that includes candles, diffusors and air mists will be enhanced via capsule collections and special drops.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Today’s anti-frizz formulas are lighter than ever, from sulfate-free shampoos that cleanse without stripping to featherlight leave-ins, heat-protecting mists, and bond-building treatments that strengthen strands from within.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of mists
Noun
  • Sanchez recently launched a happy hour with $8 wines and spritzes, including a yuzu sake spritz.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of spritzes
Noun
  • Its Romanesque façade was disguised as a grand Southern plantation—four towering white columns were erected to support a temporary façade with floral garlands, potted trees, and an enormous portrait of Leigh and Gable hung above the entrance.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Think festive garlands, brass candlestick holders, linen table runners, and cozy cashmere throws that make your home feel warm and welcoming before the first guest arrives.
    — Vivien Lee, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of garlands
Verb
  • Prepare to be dazzled from Warsaw’s highest viewing terrace atop Varso Tower, which proudly dots the skyline, before eating your way through the innovative food halls that define the coolest neighborhoods.
    — Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
  • Japanese linens top the bed, and designer furniture dots the living space.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
Definition of dots
Noun
  • The spits are tightly packed and constantly rotating, churning out 48 chickens every hour.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Denying that their output is propaganda & amplifying their messaging spits in the face of those murdered on Oct 7th & props up the Hamas terror regime that continues to punish its own people.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Definition of spits
Verb
  • Lacy, who is famously fluid in his sexuality and laughs off any attempt to define it, peppers his songs with dreams of men and women, of wanting each yet leaving everyone.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • Instead, each child interacts only with a sophisticated artificial intelligence, which peppers them with questions about everything from mathematics to philosophy.
    — Niral Shah, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
Definition of peppers

Browse Nearby Words

spraying
sprays
spread
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Cite this Entry

“Sprays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprays. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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