PLY Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

ply 1 of 3

noun

Definition of ply

as in bias

an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities since taking a ply to French burgundies, he's hardly even looked at anything else in the wine store

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ply

2 of 3

verb (1)

ˈplī

as in to exert

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively she plied all of her charm and intelligence to convince everyone to volunteer as tutors

Synonyms & Similar Words

ply

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to weave

to cause to twine about one another two single yarns were plied together to get the fabric that smooth, firm feel

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ply

Noun

The 38-year-old living legend plies his trade for Miami FC and hopes to lead Argentina to a repeat as World Cup champion in 2026. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 May 2026 Most percale sheets are made with single-ply threads, which provides its signature crisp feel, and the pima cotton make up has longer fibers than regular cotton for a gentler feel on sensitive skin. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026

Verb

Although the crew did not ply Simpson with alcohol, Halpern argues that there wasn't any pushback. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Now, Iran said a pair of oil tankers hit naval mines while plying the Strait of Hormuz. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ply

Noun

Because this was a scoping review, which summarizes existing research rather than testing a treatment directly, the researchers could not make clinical recommendations or fully assess the risk of bias.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Although much of his lineup leaned heavy-handed or overly undone, the most notable bias looks were the ones designed for ease, modernity and lightness.

— Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of bias

Verb

Hilton doesn’t engage in voter fraud allegations Federal authorities this week charged 28 people in California with illegally registering and casting ballots as part of a broader fight to exert more control over elections, which are run by states.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Bond yields in France, for example, ticked up to their highest levels since 2002 on Wednesday, exerting more pressure on government budgets.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of exert

Verb

Eller took a long pass from Aaron Ekblad just inside the blue line, weaved down the right side and ripped a wrist shot from the circle past Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
The Chiefs had no answer for Smith-Njigba, who bobbed and weaved his way through the defense for nine catches, 150 yards and a touchdown.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of weave

Noun

Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.

— Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Good and bad tendencies overlap and swirl — the Gators, a new property every week.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of tendency

Verb

All three said West Point appears to be circumventing the judge's ruling by using a different justification to continue to enforce its speech rules.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Behind the scenes, Muse uses a collection of digital notes and instructions to guide its personality, actions and memory, all of which can be reviewed, edited and deleted.

— Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

New safety requirements apply What sets the aircraft apart is its enhanced angle-of-attack system, which Boeing plans to introduce across the 737 MAX family.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
The boy was a soccer player who was enchanted by the idea of camping in the woods; Charlotte was bright and cheery, sometimes applying glitter to her father’s mustache.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of apply

Verb

Paladin reaches the high-rise apartment from the episode’s opening and finds the shotgun-wielding man dead, with wings carved into the floor below him and one of his eyes ripped out.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
An off-duty Boston police officer was justified in shooting a knife-wielding man to death inside a Chick-fil-A last year, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced Wednesday.

— Neal Riley, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of wield

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plutonian

ply

plying

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“Ply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ply. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ply

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

Example Sentences

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