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

The conditions increase the possibility of transmitting the disease, which spreads through close contact with bodily fluids of the sick and deceased such as sweat, blood, feces and vomit. —

Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 For health workers on the front line of Congo's Ebola outbreak, the work has become harder as the disease spreads faster than their current treatment capacity. —

ABC News, 7 June 2026 Likewise with special [infrared] thermometers that avoid physical contact [because the virus spreads through contact with fluids]. —

Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 June 2026 On Dutton Ranch, the FMD outbreak spreads rapidly, ultimately forcing Rip to kill his entire herd. —

Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026 Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with few effective treatment options once the disease spreads. —

Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 5 June 2026 Critics argue that the wanton use of such a powerful tool at best, betrays the dignity of the office and, at worst, spreads confusion and misinformation during times of national anxiety. —

Drew Pittock, USA Today, 4 June 2026 If the parasite spreads, beef supply could be strained, but the bigger question could be whether the news alone will spook Americans out of the drive-through lane. —

Oliver Renick, CNBC, 4 June 2026 The after-ski includes live music, traditional buffet spreads, and dancing around a maypole in ski boots. —

Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Noun

This type of hantavirus spreads between people through prolonged, close contact with a sick person. —

Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 Aon's risk capital chief, Joe Peiser, has said such deals will only grow more common as the hunger for cover spreads. —

Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Relatively low credit spreads, strong profits and descending interest rates were among the factors showing that a peak is still a ways off, Garthwaite said. —

Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 June 2026 Sportsbooks are still valuing the Spurs as the better team on a game-by-game basis, based on the spreads. —

Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 8 June 2026 But without them, yields fall, food prices rise and food insecurity spreads. —

John W.h. Denton Ao, Fortune, 6 June 2026 These crack spreads calculate the difference between the price of crude oil and the jet fuel produced from it. —

Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 June 2026 Some market analysts believe a share sale could risk widening mortgage spreads and raising mortgage rates – an outcome Bessent has repeatedly emphasized would not be acceptable to the administration. —

Bloomberg, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 Accordingly, expect to be well-fed on your stay, as the casa comes well-stocked with homemade breads, local fruits, spreads, and juices. —

Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 May 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