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
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
Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Once the disease spreads to other areas of the body, however, treatment becomes much more difficult, and the five-year survival rate dips to roughly 16 percent.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 2 May 2026
But little is known about how, exactly, information spreads across these mycelial networks.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
However, when grown as a ground cover, mint spreads quickly and can compete with other plants for nutrients and water, which can stunt their growth or kill them, says Eric Nieusma, organic farmer and co-owner of Maine Hill Farm.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
It is typically followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads downward, the agency says.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 1 May 2026
The disease is highly contagious and spreads through coughing or close contact with someone who is sick.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
This dense plant spreads quickly and grows well on slopes and hillsides.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
That’s especially true outdoors, where storage is scarce and patios tend to be smaller than the magazine spreads suggest.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Emanuel recommends buying June and July downside put spreads on the QQQ or SPY ETFs, depending on how your portfolio is positioned.
—Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Those are hefty spreads for Game 7s.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The Bermuda grass weed spreads by its roots (rhizomes) and seeds.
—Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Apr. 2026
Salad bowl shops, places that push bowls filled with Mediterranean spreads and grains, and bowls brimming with açaí under tiles of sliced banana.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And in the secondary market, SSA dollar bond yield spreads versus Treasuries have also fallen to a few hundredths of a percentage point recently.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
As optimism spreads, oil prices are falling.
—Chan Ho-Him, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Funds that cater to institutional investors focused on loans to middle-market borrowers that had more protective covenants and wider spreads, a feature that can also buffer potential losses, Gross said at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC.
—Miles Weiss, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Success spreads Successful small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Once the disease spreads to other areas of the body, however, treatment becomes much more difficult, and the five-year survival rate dips to roughly 16 percent.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 2 May 2026
But little is known about how, exactly, information spreads across these mycelial networks.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
However, when grown as a ground cover, mint spreads quickly and can compete with other plants for nutrients and water, which can stunt their growth or kill them, says Eric Nieusma, organic farmer and co-owner of Maine Hill Farm.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
It is typically followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads downward, the agency says.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 1 May 2026
The disease is highly contagious and spreads through coughing or close contact with someone who is sick.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
This dense plant spreads quickly and grows well on slopes and hillsides.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
That’s especially true outdoors, where storage is scarce and patios tend to be smaller than the magazine spreads suggest.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Don’t miss suja, or black tea churned with butter and salt, which shows up everywhere from afternoon monastery visits to morning breakfast spreads.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Emanuel recommends buying June and July downside put spreads on the QQQ or SPY ETFs, depending on how your portfolio is positioned.
—Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Those are hefty spreads for Game 7s.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The Bermuda grass weed spreads by its roots (rhizomes) and seeds.
—Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Apr. 2026
Salad bowl shops, places that push bowls filled with Mediterranean spreads and grains, and bowls brimming with açaí under tiles of sliced banana.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And in the secondary market, SSA dollar bond yield spreads versus Treasuries have also fallen to a few hundredths of a percentage point recently.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
As optimism spreads, oil prices are falling.
—Chan Ho-Him, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Funds that cater to institutional investors focused on loans to middle-market borrowers that had more protective covenants and wider spreads, a feature that can also buffer potential losses, Gross said at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC.
—Miles Weiss, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreads
Verb
-
Irrespective of how the threat is made, the agency's Protective Intelligence division examines and disseminates general threat intelligence to the entire agency.—
Donald J. Mihalek,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Much of that money has been routed through a nonprofit judicial advocacy group Leo founded — now called The 85 Fund — which both receives and disseminates Leo’s funding.—
Abrahm Lustgarten,
ProPublica,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The ruling only applies to two companies and Washington state, but the decision could prompt more legal challenges.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
This article was generated by the CA Earthquake Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Since warm air rises, this pulls it down from the ceiling and gently circulates it through the room.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
-
Plus, the three-stage filtration system captures common airborne particles, while its 360-degree air intake efficiently pulls in and circulates air in rooms of up to 1,800 square feet.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The SEALs team takes a photograph of bin Laden’s face and transmits it to American officials.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
The Amp then transmits the audio through any connected speakers.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Trever parts his hair to the right while his brother styles his combover to the left.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Later, Hamilton parts the sea on his kick scooter, speedily escaping from the hectic press area.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
CycloKinetics says the fuel improves combustion performance and increases energy density, helping missiles travel farther while improving standoff capability.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
-
Prioritize In-Flight Hydration Air travel greatly increases your risk of dehydration due to the extremely low humidity and lower cabin pressure.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
According to workers at the North Main Street restaurant, the new Camp Bowie Boulevard kiosk will sell carryout dinners, enchiladas and maybe more menu items, along with drinks.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
And then there’s a whole lot of fashion, dinners, and parties.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
In these plans, recalled Douglas Vakoch, president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International in San Francisco, huge diagrams would be etched on large expanses of land here on Earth.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Large expanses of glass keep the outdoors in constant view, so the house shifts with the light throughout the day.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreads. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
