as in spreads
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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Recent Examples of splays
Across the boat, a young guy with thin lips and a sweater tied around his shoulders leans back and splays his legs.
—
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
The Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale splays out in full shade from the condo buildings and strips of golden sun.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
The sneakers feature Altra’s signature FootShape design, which splays at the front to give your toes ample space for natural movement.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2025
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
The Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale splays out in full shade from the condo buildings and strips of golden sun.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
The sneakers feature Altra’s signature FootShape design, which splays at the front to give your toes ample space for natural movement.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splays
Verb
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The group of six certainly has a lot to do, and the new compensation program spreads the accountability around.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
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Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Throughout her lifetime, muralist and collector Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad — who splits her time between Minnesota and California — has built a collection of paintings, sculptures and religious art that showcases the intersection of the geography of the American West with Latin American culture.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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Christian Brothers is among the largest private schools in New Jersey, a state that splits its playoffs into private and public school divisions.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splays. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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