SPLAY Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

splay

verb

Definition of splay

as in to spread

to cause to move outward and apart He sat with his legs splayed apart. She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.

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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 splay Seven-year-old Hailey Karch wandered around the seawall at Black Point Marina Wednesday morning where more than a dozen spiny lobster were splayed out on the cleaning table. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 While the actress’ shoes have a rounded front, this pair has a square toe that helps your feet splay naturally and doesn’t pinch your toes. — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 What looks like a bird's tail is a stream of ice flowing northeast all the way out to the ocean, and what appear to be feathers splaying outward from the mountaintop are actually crevasses down the mountain. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 July 2026 The limbs in question were vast, inflatable, and splayed, maybe fifteen feet high, and bent at the knee, as if a giant were lying on its back. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for splay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for splay

Verb

Infrastructure on this scale needs a dedicated body that can keep pace with the technology and draw on the expertise already spread across existing agencies.

— Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, said authorities had found no evidence that the virus had spread into communities.

— Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spread

Verb

The students will have to avoid allowing political divisions that might split their movement.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Early hands-on reviews broadly agree that the FP2 leans toward filmmakers, even though Sigma pitches it as an even split between stills and video.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of split

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splatters

splay

splayed

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Style

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

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Synonyms of splay

verb

Example Sentences

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