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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
But all of these new adventures can easily wear a puppy out, and, on August 14, his owners shared a video of him in a deep sleep, splayed out across both of their laps.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Bob came out, blinking his eyes hard and closing his big fists tight, splaying his fingers back out in a pink baby starfish.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Neither do the police, nor the Ring cameras affixed to the facades on several neighborhood homes, though at least the latter capture footage of kids bounding through their front doors, arms splayed like wings, into early morning’s opaque embrace.
—Andy Crump, Time, 9 Aug. 2025
The model in the chartreuse spinning there, right on the edge, arms splayed.
—Mona Awad, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for splay
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Bob came out, blinking his eyes hard and closing his big fists tight, splaying his fingers back out in a pink baby starfish.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Neither do the police, nor the Ring cameras affixed to the facades on several neighborhood homes, though at least the latter capture footage of kids bounding through their front doors, arms splayed like wings, into early morning’s opaque embrace.
—Andy Crump, Time, 9 Aug. 2025
The model in the chartreuse spinning there, right on the edge, arms splayed.
—Mona Awad, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for splay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splay
Verb
-
Today, the palatial structure spreads across four floors (including the subterranean level), offering versatile space that’s adaptable to both living and business purposes.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Legoland California’s family-friendly Halloween party returns for another not-too-spooky season of not-so-scary frights filled with character meet-and-greets, live shows, ride overlays, seasonal food and plenty of trick-or-treating candy stations spread throughout the park.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Anderson classification system for turf toe is split into three grades.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Plans also call for remodeling the existing southern section into 3,700 square feet of additional commercial space, split evenly between two storefronts.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Splay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splay. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share