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
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Recent Examples of spreads
Ricardo Torres, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Measles symptoms can appear between seven and 21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a red blotchy rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
With the 2025-26 flu season expected to be worse than usual, cases of the flu are increasing rapidly in Michigan as the virus spreads across schools ahead of winter break.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Local doctors have also warned about a new flu strain called subclade K this season, which spreads quickly.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The authenticity of the footage and the precise locations where it was recorded could not be immediately confirmed, a common challenge in Venezuela, where misinformation often spreads quickly during crises.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
Opposition spreads as data centers fan out A growing number of proposals are going down in defeat, sounding alarms across the data center constellation of Big Tech firms, real estate developers, electric utilities, labor unions and more.
—Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The wagering platform hopes to attract people to betting who don’t already spend their days thinking about odds and spreads by relying on a decidedly different kind of spokesperson for its Super Bowl ad.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
All this, while equity indexes have held near record highs, corporate-debt spreads are subdued and bond-market volatility remains sleepy.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
As long as credit spreads remain low and steady, investors will continue to seek yield.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Another version of Hôtel Balzac occupied this space before the current one, but word on the street is that the former venue—with heavy curtains, decadent fleur-de-lis bed spreads, and a real King Louis XIV aesthetic—was due for a makeover.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
As an epidemic spreads chaos, Jacob – sheriff, undertaker and pastor – must fight to save his town, his family and his soul.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Tables That Invite You to Snack and Savor Grazing remains the go-to approach for home entertaining, with hosts embracing abundant, artful spreads that feel effortless yet elevated.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Using the same cloth all over spreads germs, so keep separate tools for each bathroom area.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
That's how informality spreads, and productivity dies.
—Ricardo Torres, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Measles symptoms can appear between seven and 21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a red blotchy rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
With the 2025-26 flu season expected to be worse than usual, cases of the flu are increasing rapidly in Michigan as the virus spreads across schools ahead of winter break.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Local doctors have also warned about a new flu strain called subclade K this season, which spreads quickly.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The authenticity of the footage and the precise locations where it was recorded could not be immediately confirmed, a common challenge in Venezuela, where misinformation often spreads quickly during crises.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
Opposition spreads as data centers fan out A growing number of proposals are going down in defeat, sounding alarms across the data center constellation of Big Tech firms, real estate developers, electric utilities, labor unions and more.
—Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Noun
Widely recognized gold coins and bars are typically easier to sell and command tighter bid-ask spreads, so older investors may want to narrow their purchasing options to those types of physical gold assets.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The wagering platform hopes to attract people to betting who don’t already spend their days thinking about odds and spreads by relying on a decidedly different kind of spokesperson for its Super Bowl ad.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
All this, while equity indexes have held near record highs, corporate-debt spreads are subdued and bond-market volatility remains sleepy.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
As long as credit spreads remain low and steady, investors will continue to seek yield.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Another version of Hôtel Balzac occupied this space before the current one, but word on the street is that the former venue—with heavy curtains, decadent fleur-de-lis bed spreads, and a real King Louis XIV aesthetic—was due for a makeover.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
As an epidemic spreads chaos, Jacob – sheriff, undertaker and pastor – must fight to save his town, his family and his soul.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Tables That Invite You to Snack and Savor Grazing remains the go-to approach for home entertaining, with hosts embracing abundant, artful spreads that feel effortless yet elevated.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Using the same cloth all over spreads germs, so keep separate tools for each bathroom area.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreads
Verb
-
The virus disseminates from a person’s vomit and stool, spraying into the air or landing on nearby surfaces.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
15 Dec. 2025
-
The spores can also be present in soil, which, if disturbed, disseminates the spores into the air.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The designation only applies to the sign, not the attached building, which houses Americana Pizza.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The ideal model securely streams biometric data into clinical systems, applies advanced analytics within provider workflows and translates insights into coordinated care delivery across pharmacies, community services and home support.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Half a century on, Watkins’ brilliant dialogue still circulates online, occasionally going viral to this day.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
-
As water circulates through the equipment, the equipment cools, and the water heats up.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The CubeSat takes a high-definition image of its surroundings every 2 minutes and transmits it to the laptop.—
Joanna Goodrich,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Dec. 2025
-
In one of his stories a fabricator of artificial eyes creates a portable surveillance camera in the form of an egg-size eyeball that transmits images to its creator.—
Michael Dirda,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That’s because the physical exertion of shoveling increases heart rate and blood pressure, while at the same time the cold constricts blood vessels–a double whammy of stressors.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a low-cost hydrogel coating that cools solar panel hot spots and increases the power output, thus improving their overall performance and reliability.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Truth be told, these dinners stand alone as delicious, but are that much better with a side of adventure.—
Shauna Farnell,
Denver Post,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Its sleek vegan leather design looks polished enough for sightseeing days and casual dinners alike.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Large expanses of seats were unused during the third-bottom home side’s 2-1 defeat to Forest, who are in 17th place, on Tuesday.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trudging across six lanes of highway, and expanses of parking lot, to reach Soldier Field never had many fans, but there is zero romance in this new spot.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The difference in low- and high-end ranges is vast in most southeast Michigan communities.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
That can include discovering new actors, assembling ensembles with a particular chemistry or managing large and complex casts across locations or age ranges.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreads. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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