as in infectious
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
spreading enthusiasm that got our club rolling again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in disseminating
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people
spread the news!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in applying
to put a layer of on a surface
we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in circulating
to become known
once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in transmitting
to cause (something) to pass from one to another
living conditions that help to spread chicken pox
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in separating
to go or move in different directions from a central point
the walls of the old barn spread under the weight of the snow on the roof
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in increasing
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number
dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spreading
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Ukraine's drone revolution is spreading from the air to the ground.
—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading.
—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
Then anaplasmosis joined the fray, spreading fevers and chills of its own.
—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
That means many areas are at high risk for fires igniting and spreading.
—
Lauren Lowman,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
The strain already appears to be spreading to other hormone replacement therapies, with ASHP recently listing several estradiol creams and progesterone pills, which are given alongside estrogen, as being in shortage.
—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
26 June 2026
The leading edge of the plume is expected to reach the western Gulf Coast first, with early impacts along the Texas shoreline before spreading east toward Louisiana and other Gulf states.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Better fabric and stitching survive more wears, spreading the price over years.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2026
Verb
Winslow has been on a ventilator and is now battling septic shock, with organ failure and a spreading infection.
—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Ukraine's drone revolution is spreading from the air to the ground.
—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading.
—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
Then anaplasmosis joined the fray, spreading fevers and chills of its own.
—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
That means many areas are at high risk for fires igniting and spreading.
—
Lauren Lowman,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
The strain already appears to be spreading to other hormone replacement therapies, with ASHP recently listing several estradiol creams and progesterone pills, which are given alongside estrogen, as being in shortage.
—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
26 June 2026
The leading edge of the plume is expected to reach the western Gulf Coast first, with early impacts along the Texas shoreline before spreading east toward Louisiana and other Gulf states.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Better fabric and stitching survive more wears, spreading the price over years.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreading
Adjective
-
Lynn's infectious personality and ongoing quest for selfies made her someone that everyone wanted to know, and her sharp wit kept readers coming back for more.
-
The traveler was infectious while passing through Los Angeles County, potentially exposing others at LAX and the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
Verb
-
Broadsides – sheets of paper containing lyrics to be sung to familiar, traditional melodies – were a common medium for disseminating songs.
-
Everyone who chooses to has a platform for disseminating and consuming information about science, whether true or not.
Verb
-
Normally, credit bureaus tally any credit checks within a 45-day period as one credit check, and your credit score shouldn't go down more than several points when applying to multiple lenders.
-
Madonna divorced from Guy Ritchie in 2008, before applying to adopt Mercy, and her adoption application was initially rejected by the courts.
Verb
-
The antibodies recognize parts of the virus that have remained largely unchanged across circulating RSV strains.
-
Soon, a chilling report began circulating among family and friends.
Verb
-
The most enduring legacy may be not only transferring wealth, but also transmitting a commitment to ensure that everyone has a place at the table.
-
Thompson is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm as well as transmitting threatening interstate communications.
Verb
-
Khushboo Gupta, vice president of policy at PETA India, said the aesthetic appeal of live elephants doesn’t justify shackling, beating and separating them from their families.
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This process involves removing fuel, managing radiological controls, separating the hull, demilitarizing, and recycling.
Verb
-
As summer arrives, snow begins melting, ice hardens and rocks loosen, increasing the risk of falls and rockfall.
-
When patients can’t pay, hospitals absorb the costs and pass them onto people with insurance by increasing prices, studies show.
Verb
-
In addition to environmental education and advocacy, the center’s mission includes propagating rare and endangered native plants and rehabilitating birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians.
-
Ahead, experts share their go-to methods for propagating a lemon tree the right way.
Cite this Entry
“Spreading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreading. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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