1
as in disseminates
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people
spread the news!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in applies
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 circulates
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 transmits
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 parts
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 increases
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number
dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in quilts
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed
bought a brightly colored spread for summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dinners
a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment
they really know how to put out a good spread
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in expanses
a wide space or area
a vast spread of land just waiting to be settled
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in spectrums
the distance or extent between possible extremes
the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in distances
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects
a spread of nearly 100 miles between farms
Synonyms & Similar 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 spreads
John Bacon, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Transmitted by bites, scratches, or even just by getting a drop of infected blood in one's system, the virus spreads rapidly, effectively collapsing society.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
The speed at which a cancer grows and spreads in turn does depend heavily on its initial location, cell type and grade.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
One will be focused on grocery stapes including brands such as Lunchables, and the other on sauces and spreads like Philadelphia cream cheese.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Financial troubles on the ranch A major stressor for Katherine and George in the latter half of the series is their financial troubles, as a disease spreads through the trees on their expansive Colorado ranch.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
As this activity spreads eastward across the I-25 Corridor and plains, showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Southern Arizona will see the first round of storms before activity spreads north.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Alora Bopray, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
By pooling liquidity across the two systems, DeXRP aims to reduce slippage, tighten spreads, and deliver an execution experience closer to what institutions demand.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
One will focus on faster-growing businesses, such as sauces, spreads and shelf-stable meals.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
When fear or misinformation spreads, fewer people register, and patients die waiting.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Find a variety of spreads, totals, moneylines and passing props.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Bid-ask spreads, the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for an asset and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept, are narrowing to more healthy levels across multiple sectors.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
Those symptoms are usually followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads, officials said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Yeager was one of Hef’s go-to photographers, shooting eight centerfolds along with pictorial spreads.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Another cold front sweeping down from Canada will drop already moderate temperatures 10-20 degrees across parts of the Midwest this week before its grip spreads across the Northeast, forecasters say.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Transmitted by bites, scratches, or even just by getting a drop of infected blood in one's system, the virus spreads rapidly, effectively collapsing society.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
The speed at which a cancer grows and spreads in turn does depend heavily on its initial location, cell type and grade.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
One will be focused on grocery stapes including brands such as Lunchables, and the other on sauces and spreads like Philadelphia cream cheese.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Financial troubles on the ranch A major stressor for Katherine and George in the latter half of the series is their financial troubles, as a disease spreads through the trees on their expansive Colorado ranch.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
As this activity spreads eastward across the I-25 Corridor and plains, showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Southern Arizona will see the first round of storms before activity spreads north.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
How toxic workplaces emerge When managers fail to set clear expectations, communicate openly and model respectful behavior, dysfunction spreads and a toxic workplace is born.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
By pooling liquidity across the two systems, DeXRP aims to reduce slippage, tighten spreads, and deliver an execution experience closer to what institutions demand.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
One will focus on faster-growing businesses, such as sauces, spreads and shelf-stable meals.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
When fear or misinformation spreads, fewer people register, and patients die waiting.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Find a variety of spreads, totals, moneylines and passing props.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Bid-ask spreads, the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for an asset and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept, are narrowing to more healthy levels across multiple sectors.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
Those symptoms are usually followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads, officials said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Yeager was one of Hef’s go-to photographers, shooting eight centerfolds along with pictorial spreads.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreads
Verb
-
Advocate for flexibility The same principle applies to flexible work environments, which reduce fatigue and burnout for caregivers and noncaregivers alike.—
Colleen Tolan,
The Conversation,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The program, at least for now, only applies to providers and patients in New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Washington, according to Axios.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bacterium Yersinia pestis still circulates globally.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Money velocity—the rate at which money circulates through the economy—remains stuck near historic lows, about 20% below pre-pandemic levels, according to my firm’s recent research highlight, which dives more deeply into data analysis on this subject.—
Ivan Illan,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even with your porch lights off at night, the camera’s infrared night vision transmits a clear image.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Inconspicuous risk The rabies virus generally transmits through saliva via bites and scratches, and bat bites and scratches are easy to miss.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But Musk would get those shares only if the value of Tesla stock increases significantly in coming years.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
-
But sending soldiers who are not well versed in policing increases the likelihood of mistakes.—
Luke William Hunt,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There will be an array of events the weekend of September 26 to 28 at the Joseph—from a cooking class led by Top Chef champ Mei Lin to wine tastings to a cocktail mixology course—with the tentpoles being a pair of dinners that will show off very different styles of cooking.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Meticulous, frugal and involved in all aspects of the business, Armani put his stamp of approval on everything from skirt lengths and the flowers strewn around at gala dinners to the colors of the curtains in the offices.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Much of the rest of the hike was dry and traversed gentle gravel bars or smooth limestone expanses, skirting the edges of grassy bluffs and rocky cliffs.—
Eva Frederick,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Andres Garcia Lachner/Costa Elena While Costa Rica comes equipped with towering volcanoes and vast expanses of shoreline, few of its natural features can match the grandeur of the Guanacaste Conservation Area.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Horses were a mode of transportation, a way of moving quickly across vast distances.—
Bitter Kalli
August 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Mining applications typically require higher speed and thus long-range LiDAR that can detect objects at greater distances.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
At the furthest edge of this vision lies a future where entire organizations operate not as hierarchies or even networks but as coherent light fields, where strategic intent propagates through resonance rather than reporting lines.—
Pravir Malik,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The light then passes through a vertical waveguide, which restricts the way the light propagates and creates wavelength-dependent patterns; so different wavelengths of light land on different pixels on the detector.—
Gwendolyn Rak,
IEEE Spectrum,
13 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Spreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreads. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share