Synonyms of spreads

spreads 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spread

1

as in disseminates

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

spread the news!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disseminates
• propagates
• circulates
• broadcasts
• imparts
• transmits
• dispenses
• diffuses
• communicates
• passes (on)
• conveys
• radiates
• disperses
• sprawls
• dissipates
• sows
• scatters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• holds (in)
• hides
• conceals
• obscures
• masks
• secretes
• contains
• restricts
• limits
• enshrouds
• cloaks
• shrouds
• veils

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

• applies
• smears
• lays
• sheets
• lays on
• coats
• layers
• anoints
• dabs
• covers
• plasters
• slathers
• blankets
• overspreads
• surfaces
• carpets
• overlays
• bedaubs
• besmears
• daubs
• overlies
• mantles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exposes
• uncovers
• strips
• peels
• bares

3

as in circulates

to become known

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• circulates
• unfolds
• breaks
• reveals
• leaks (out)
• comes out
• tells
• gets out
• outs
• develops
• gets around
• gets about
• gets round
• discloses
• transpires
• spills

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppresses
• hides
• masks
• conceals
• disguises
• hushes (up)
• secretes

4

as in transmits

to cause (something) to pass from one to another

living conditions that help to spread chicken pox

Synonyms & Similar Words

• transmits
• gives
• conveys
• propagates
• disseminates
• communicates
• imparts
• transfers
• conducts
• delivers
• transfuses
• diffuses
• turns over
• infects
• broadcasts
• surrenders
• contaminates
• hands over
• poisons
• hands down
• hands on

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• catches
• contracts
• comes down (with)

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

• parts
• divides
• diverges
• separates
• retreats
• scatters
• branches (out)
• forks
• dissipates
• distributes
• disperses
• dispels
• broadcasts
• sows
• disbands
• recedes
• clears out
• distances
• bestrews
• breaks up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joins
• converges
• meets
• gathers
• assembles

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

• increases
• rises
• expands
• swells
• accelerates
• climbs
• multiplies
• proliferates
• intensifies
• accumulates
• waxes
• enlarges
• escalates
• mushrooms
• rolls up
• snowballs
• mounts
• gains
• surges
• builds up
• burgeons
• booms
• jumps
• appreciates
• balloons
• heightens
• distends
• skyrockets
• inflates
• redoubles
• rockets
• puffs (up)
• peaks
• bulks
• crests
• blows up
• crescendoes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreases
• diminishes
• recedes
• wanes
• lessens
• contracts
• dwindles

spreads

2 of 2

noun

plural of spread

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

• quilts
• coverlets
• bedspreads
• puffs
• bedcovers
• clothes
• counterpanes
• haps
• comforters
• bedclothes
• beddings

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

• dinners
• banquets
• feasts
• feeds
• barbecues
• festivals
• regales
• roasts
• galas
• tables
• festivities
• repasts
• chow
• blowouts
• parties
• messes
• carnivals
• fetes
• buffets
• fries
• luncheons
• shindigs
• cookouts
• smorgasbords
• clambakes
• luaus

3

as in expanses

a wide space or area

a vast spread of land just waiting to be settled

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expanses
• expansions
• stretches
• reaches
• sheets
• distances
• plains
• lengths
• wastes
• breadths
• sweeps
• fields
• depths
• extents
• territories
• domains
• scales
• spans
• spheres
• spectra
• voids
• ranges
• extensions
• scopes
• magnitudes
• gamuts
• amplitudes
• latitudes
• compasses
• immensities

4

as in ranges

the distance or extent between possible extremes

the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ranges
• scales
• stretches
• spectra
• reaches
• gamuts
• diapasons
• widths
• sweeps
• measures
• pitches
• dimensions
• scopes
• realms
• extents
• amplitudes
• compasses
• ambits

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

• distances
• stretches
• removes
• widths
• spacings
• leads
• lengths
• heights
• spaces
• ways
• areas
• reaches
• rises
• throws
• sweeps
• falls
• volumes
• depths
• extensions
• altitudes
• ranges
• drops
• hauls
• flights
• casts
• breadths
• shots
• clearances
• extents
• scopes
• berths

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spreads

Verb

The missile, called a PrSM—for precision-strike missile—detonates midair and spreads thousands of small tungsten fragments in all directions. — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

According to Data Center Watch, at least 75 data center projects worth roughly $130 billion have already been blocked or delayed this year as the backlash spreads. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

The deer that spreads the hairs on its tail is on alert but not quite ready to bolt. — Tom Carpenter, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026

Chytrid fungus is water-borne, and spreads through a frog’s aquatic habitat. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026

Vidio spreads Indonesian football, the Champions League and the Premier League across its pricing tiers. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Houdek’s framing — that even one thoughtful layer changes a room — is the kind of low-cost, high-impact intervention that spreads fast. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when people cough, sneeze, talk or breath. — Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Sep. 2026

Rabies spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite. — Nayara Batschke, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

When credit spreads widen, investors are demanding higher yields for holding corporate debt, viewing it as riskier. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Alternative spreads like low-fat Greek yogurt, mashed chickpeas, and almond butter can make toasts a high-protein meal. — Amber Raiken, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2026

Those games are expected to be blowouts with massive spreads in both games. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Carter is also more than a photographer who has shot fashion spreads for Vogue, Valentino and Ralph Lauren, or whose portraiture has been featured on the covers of Essence and GQ. — Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

How to Choose Grapes One bad grape truly can spoil the bunch, as mold on one grape spreads to the rest, so be sure to shop or pick wisely to maximize the lifespan of your grapes. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2026

The Hurricanes are favored by almost two Rutgers-UMass spreads. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Physical gold bars and coins, for example, generally make more sense as longer-term holdings because dealer premiums and buy-sell spreads can make frequent trading expensive. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Falling 10-year Treasury yields, cooling inflation and lower mortgage spreads could help mortgage rates fall enough to meet this goal. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026