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
Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 21 Nov. 2025
If this is the version of Smith that sprays the ball around to his playmakers and threw four touchdowns against the Jaguars last week, the Raiders can hang.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
In a viral TikTok video shared on Saturday under the username @personalityhire__, the poster’s cat, Paya, can be seen sitting quietly in the bathtub, opening his mouth to drink as his owner sprays him with the shower head right in the face.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Fittingly, these finals get a full seven-game layout, and the team to earn four wins lifts the trophy (then sprays the trophy with sparkling wine).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This is when water from a sprinkler head sprays out onto the sidewalk or street, and that's considered wasted water.
—Yvette Fernandez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Like Machado, Tatis sprays the ball to all fields, even on the ground, another reason he can be depended upon to hit for a solid batting average, even while playing his home games in a pitchers’ park.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
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
Verb
The warmer temperatures also mean ski areas have been unable to run snowmaking equipment, which sprays mist into the air to create snow in freezing temperatures.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 21 Nov. 2025
If this is the version of Smith that sprays the ball around to his playmakers and threw four touchdowns against the Jaguars last week, the Raiders can hang.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
In a viral TikTok video shared on Saturday under the username @personalityhire__, the poster’s cat, Paya, can be seen sitting quietly in the bathtub, opening his mouth to drink as his owner sprays him with the shower head right in the face.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Fittingly, these finals get a full seven-game layout, and the team to earn four wins lifts the trophy (then sprays the trophy with sparkling wine).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This is when water from a sprinkler head sprays out onto the sidewalk or street, and that's considered wasted water.
—Yvette Fernandez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Like Machado, Tatis sprays the ball to all fields, even on the ground, another reason he can be depended upon to hit for a solid batting average, even while playing his home games in a pitchers’ park.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
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
Verb
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
-
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The timber wars have receded into the mists of history.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Trees produce fine mists of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which scatter blue light waves.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Christmas garlands, high heels, and even craft supplies have all found a home in the spacious cavity.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Cloud bands and satellites Binoculars show Jupiter as a tiny disk, while a medium-size telescope reveals numerous dark belts, light zones and a wealth of festoons, garlands, ovals and other features extending here and there.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t want tender young shoots popping out when another polar vortex is right around the corner.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
-
And holding on a bit longer to see how Puma’s turnaround progresses could turn into a benefit because evidence of some green shoots could raise bids for the brand.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Naked people are collared, bound, prodded, whipped, ridden like horses, roasted over spits.—
Michael Robbins,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Instead, the original body features a patina that peppers its exterior and is a point of celebration, preserved and maintained for true uniqueness.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The golden, semi-double flowers cover the tidy, compact plant through multiple flushes from spring to fall.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This stuff gives hair more bounce than a basketball and flushes away oil, product buildup, and grime without any compromise to your strands’ moisture levels.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprays. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
