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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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

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Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026 By then, standard-issue electric typewriters and six-ply carbon paper had been replaced by far less visually interesting computers. — Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

Verb

Meanwhile, the Blue Sharks are playing in their first World Cup and consist of many players who ply their trade away from the world’s top leagues. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 The 6-foot-2 goalkeeper has been plying his craft professionally for nearly two decades, having bounced around to nine different club teams in the process. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ply

Noun

Meanwhile, Grok showed the strongest biases, highly favoring Catholics and Protestants while showing an aversion for Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baha’i and Hindus.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
In fact, Smith has long argued that the NFL has overlooked Black candidates at those positions because of racial bias.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of bias

Verb

Beijing has exerted greater institutional control in Tibet since Xi Jinping became the country's president in 2012.

— Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Avard grew concerned that the Chinese bottled water company Nongfu Spring, which purchased a more than 375,000 square-foot industrial property in Nashua in 2025, would begin to exert influence over the local political process.

— Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026

Definition of exert

Verb

Experienced vine dressers weave the canes into basket-like forms that rest close to the island’s volcanic soil, protecting grapes from wind and harsh conditions.

— Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Wingate weaves this historical horror with a modern-day mystery, illustrating the lasting trauma of children stolen for profit and the unbreakable bond of blood.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026

Definition of weave

Noun

These deciduous trees are invasive in many areas because of their aggressive roots that spread wide and far, and their tendency to take over native plants.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
This is largely because about half of autistic children have a tendency to wander away from safe environments.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 July 2026

Definition of tendency

Verb

Alysa Guffey Currently, data centers use industrial zoning and ask for exemptions to use the site for data centers.

— Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of use

Noun

For much of the past several decades, overt expressions of racial prejudice became increasingly socially unacceptable in mainstream public life.

— Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Ableism is the everyday prejudice — sometimes subtle, sometimes overt — that treats people with disabilities as inconvenient, less competent, or less deserving of respect and opportunity.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026

Definition of prejudice

Verb

Wiener asked for amendments to the bill during the bill’s review and in the committee meeting, including that the lifetime ban only be applied to Tier 3 members.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
The ruling establishes the legal standard going forward and does not change the law that applied previously.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of apply

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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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ply

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

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