Synonyms of spreading

spreading 1 of 2

adjective

as in infectious

exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others

spreading enthusiasm that got our club rolling again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• infectious
• catching
• epidemic
• contagious
• tangible
• perceptible
• overwhelming
• overpowering
• irresistible
• winning
• palpable
• inviting
• fetching
• endearing
• disarming
• winsome

spreading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of spread

1

as in disseminating

to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people

spread the news!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disseminating
• propagating
• circulating
• broadcasting
• transmitting
• imparting
• dispensing
• diffusing
• communicating
• radiating
• conveying
• passing (on)
• dispersing
• scattering
• sprawling
• sowing
• dissipating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hiding
• concealing
• holding (in)
• obscuring
• masking
• secreting
• limiting
• restricting
• containing
• shrouding
• enshrouding
• cloaking
• veiling

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

• applying
• smearing
• laying
• sheeting
• coating
• laying on
• layering
• plastering
• slathering
• dabbing
• anointing
• daubing
• covering
• blanketing
• surfacing
• overlaying
• besmearing
• overspreading
• bedaubing
• overlying
• mantling
• carpeting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exposing
• stripping
• peeling
• uncovering
• baring

3

as in circulating

to become known

once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

• circulating
• unfolding
• breaking
• telling
• revealing
• coming out
• developing
• leaking (out)
• getting out
• getting around
• disclosing
• outing
• getting about
• getting round
• spilling
• transpiring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppressing
• hiding
• concealing
• masking
• disguising
• hushing (up)
• secreting

4

as in transmitting

to cause (something) to pass from one to another

living conditions that help to spread chicken pox

Synonyms & Similar Words

• transmitting
• giving
• conveying
• propagating
• disseminating
• communicating
• imparting
• transferring
• conducting
• delivering
• diffusing
• transfusing
• broadcasting
• infecting
• contaminating
• surrendering
• turning over
• handing over
• poisoning
• handing down
• handing on

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• catching
• contracting
• coming down (with)

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

• separating
• dividing
• parting
• diverging
• retreating
• forking
• scattering
• branching (out)
• distributing
• dispersing
• dissipating
• dispelling
• broadcasting
• sowing
• disbanding
• receding
• distancing
• bestrewing
• clearing out
• breaking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joining
• converging
• meeting
• gathering
• assembling

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

• increasing
• rising
• expanding
• accelerating
• swelling
• multiplying
• climbing
• accumulating
• intensifying
• proliferating
• waxing
• snowballing
• enlarging
• mushrooming
• escalating
• gaining
• mounting
• ballooning
• burgeoning
• booming
• surging
• jumping
• rolling up
• appreciating
• heightening
• building up
• skyrocketing
• rocketing
• inflating
• redoubling
• peaking
• distending
• puffing (up)
• bulking
• cresting
• blowing up
• crescendoing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreasing
• diminishing
• contracting
• lessening
• receding
• waning
• dwindling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spreading

Verb

Retired auto worker Chris Vitale doesn’t give credence to such misinformation spreading online. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Researchers recreated this underlying dynamics in a controllable quantum system and found that string breaking can begin at the edges before spreading inward. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026

Given Jalen Coker was ruled out in the third quarter with a quadriceps injury, Young found other targets, spreading it around to Brycen Tremayne, Darren Waller, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans. — Charlotte Observer, 27 Sep. 2026

Los Angeles County uses a network of 27 spreading grounds, where artificial basins fill up when storms send torrents cascading down from the mountains into the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Whatever special kind of brain worms have established themselves in Elon Musk’s noggin appear to be spreading throughout his companies. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026

Facilities grew outward, spreading across vast acreage to house rows of standard x86 servers. — Kevin Brown, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Folklore intentionally awards $10,000 grants rather than spreading the money across a larger number of smaller awards, with the goal of providing enough funding for investments such as equipment, additional space or employees. — Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

The outbreak is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike and intense population movements. — Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026