SPREADS Synonyms: 248 Similar and Opposite Words

spreads 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spread

as in disseminates

to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people spread the news!

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Relevance

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as in applies

to put a layer of on a surface we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered

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as in circulates

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

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as in transmits

to cause (something) to pass from one to another living conditions that help to spread chicken pox

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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

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as in increases

to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly

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spreads

2 of 2

noun

plural of spread

as in quilts

a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed bought a brightly colored spread for summer

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as in dinners

a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment they really know how to put out a good spread

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as in expanses

a wide space or area a vast spread of land just waiting to be settled

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as in ranges

the distance or extent between possible extremes the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz

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as in distances

the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects a spread of nearly 100 miles between farms

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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

Verb

Behind him spreads a green valley uncluttered by cars, roads, or electric wires. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 Why bats can pose a rabies risk Rabies spreads through the saliva or nervous tissue of an infected mammal, usually through a bite. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 At a little under two feet, the can’t-miss fixture spreads a warm light that creates a welcoming atmosphere for reading, relaxing, or sharing drinks without harsh overhead lighting or a spindly, corner-lurking, fluorescent presence. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026 Symptoms can include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that often begins on the head and then spreads. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a rash that typically begins on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 In July, the US was hit with a wave of explosive diarrhea caused by an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that spreads through food and water tainted with human feces. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 As the outbreak spreads and kills people faster than any other outbreak of the disease in history, a major source of concern for monitoring efforts is miners constantly on the move and in hard-to-reach, unsafe territories. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 But small, consistent steps from parents can meaningfully reduce how often illness spreads through a family during the school year. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

As Western forces withdraw and violence spreads in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, analysts warn these Russian security deals deepen dependence on Moscow while failing to reverse the region’s worsening instability. — Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Seven full spreads were devoted to what was best (biker, military) and what was worst (bandage, bras). — Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 Breakfast is a limited buffet of eggs, fruit, spreads, and breads. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 What about the fact that the yield on investment-grade corporate debt remains below its peak from a few years ago, because spreads over Treasuries are so snug? — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 Then there's the fact that betting in the NFL is primarily on point spreads, not simply winners and losers. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Equity indices are near highs, credit spreads are tight, and the consensus economic forecast still describes a soft landing that has already landed. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 As optimism spreads, an investment boom—the next stage—develops, much of it facilitated by credit expansion, and the repercussions are felt in the broader economy. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 The strongest shaking is concentrated around the epicenter northwest of Cali and extends toward the Pacific coast, while weaker shaking spreads toward Medellín, Bogotá and surrounding regions. — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreads

Verb

But the way social media disseminates words and images means that young people often share the same cultural icons and influences in ways unimaginable 50 years ago.

— Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 18 July 2026
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

Definition of disseminates

Verb

However, in a convection oven, a fan at the back of the unit circulates the hot air created by the heating elements for more even distribution.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980 and no longer naturally circulates, was once one of the world's deadliest diseases.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of circulates

Verb

Airport malaria is a very rare form of the disease’s transmission and occurs when a mosquito survives a flight from a malaria-endemic country and transmits the disease at or near the airport.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
While the car transmits every ripple in the road, its trick Multimatic dampers round off imperfections beautifully, so the chassis never feels discombobulated.

— Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026

Definition of transmits

Verb

But if that decision introduces longer transportation times, reduces product shelf life or increases waste, the gain in one KPI may negatively affect KPIs for shipping, customer satisfaction, loss prevention, etc.

— Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
While the first dose means a child is largely protected from the infections, a second dose increases protection.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of increases

Noun

Its patchwork patterns are reminiscent of antique quilts with plenty of Southern charm, and they’re printed and stitched in sections along the length of the quilt.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Better Homes & Gardens Stripe Chambray Quilt Cotton quilts typically have three layers; the two thin outer layers can wick away moisture and provide a cooling effect, which is why this chambray quilt is the perfect summer layer for your bed.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026

Definition of quilts

Noun

Guest said that behavior included providing the aides with lavish gifts, making comments about their appearance and dress, sending notes regarding his affection and inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations.

— Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Chris Barish, the co-owner, came by our table and stayed to tell stories, which is how the best dinners come to be.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026