as in infectious
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
spreading enthusiasm that got our club rolling again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in disseminating
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people
spread the news!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in applying
to put a layer of on a surface
we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in circulating
to become known
once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in transmitting
to cause (something) to pass from one to another
living conditions that help to spread chicken pox
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in separating
to go or move in different directions from a central point
the walls of the old barn spread under the weight of the snow on the roof
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in increasing
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number
dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spreading
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
Berners-Lee was spreading his wings, too.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
And that's because the rot appears to be spreading up the age range to the point that British first-time parents are now more likely to support axing the crown than ever before.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Top with half of the remaining pastry cream, spreading evenly.
—Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
That threshold, the level of vaccination in a community where diseases have a minimal chance of spreading, is what's known as herd immunity.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Hari said friends immediately contacted him asking whether his prior visa status could complicate his ability to travel, underscoring the uncertainty spreading quickly through immigrant circles.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
With the need for fellowship in mind and the threat of spreading COVID-19, Shawnee Presbyterian made the difficult decision to temporarily close Cafe Ginko in 2020.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Separate the spreading root system by cutting or pulling it apart into several sections.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
Berners-Lee was spreading his wings, too.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
And that's because the rot appears to be spreading up the age range to the point that British first-time parents are now more likely to support axing the crown than ever before.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Top with half of the remaining pastry cream, spreading evenly.
—Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
That threshold, the level of vaccination in a community where diseases have a minimal chance of spreading, is what's known as herd immunity.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Hari said friends immediately contacted him asking whether his prior visa status could complicate his ability to travel, underscoring the uncertainty spreading quickly through immigrant circles.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
With the need for fellowship in mind and the threat of spreading COVID-19, Shawnee Presbyterian made the difficult decision to temporarily close Cafe Ginko in 2020.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreading
Adjective
-
But a single policy can protect them from many infectious threats.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
-
For Peter Chin-Hong, MD, an infectious-disease specialist and a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, many questions remain unanswered about the ACIP stance.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cultural and institutional barriers to disseminating them have decreased.—
Zeynep Tufekci,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
To remember how these three women—and other journalists like them—got down to the business of reporting on what was happening, disseminating information to the masses and becoming a part of history, though none of them knew it at the time.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Do a strand test first by applying color on a small section.—
Maureen Choi,
Glamour,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The district is applying to the Texas Education Agency to adopt the Resource Campus Model, a school turnaround strategy, at seven struggling campuses.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Video of the robbery circulating online shows the masked people carrying what appears to be pick axes, crow bars and tire irons.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Alexandra Grant, visual artist and actor Keanu Reeves’ girlfriend, debunked rumors circulating online that the couple were recently married.—
Paula Soria,
AZCentral.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Pistorius warned that 39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites were flying over Germany transmitting real-time surveillance data and said NATO allies needed to develop offensive capabilities needed to be developed in space to deter any threat.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The department conducts regular surveillance for species capable of transmitting West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis viruses.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Inland Rail Trail is a 21-mile bike path that is 8 to 10 feet wide with a 2-foot-wide unpaved shoulder and barriers separating the trail from motor vehicles.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
There were just two points separating the teams after Blake Grupe’s field goal in the fourth quarter, before two crucial plays from Josh Allen – first a 27-yard scramble through the Saints defense, then a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid – extended the Bills’ lead.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Then there are additional fines for selling alcohol illegally to underage individuals, with increasing amounts, based on the number of offenses.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
An increasing threat of heavy rainfall from this system is forecast over the southern Mid-Atlantic through coastal Georgia which could cause flash, urban, and river flooding into next week.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Such a blatant falsehood making it to the press conference betrays the fact that there is no limit to how false something has to be in order for this administration to resist propagating it.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
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To develop a whole-virus vaccine, researchers must first spend months isolating and propagating the virus.—
Deborah Fuller,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spreading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreading. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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