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
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Recent Examples of spreading
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, Jones ran it to near perfection, spreading the ball around to Bourne, Jauan Jennings, Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges before hitting McCaffrey on a 7-yard score in the right side of the end zone.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
The incursion was by far the largest-ever of Russian drones into NATO airspace, a move that has alarmed allied countries and fueled fears the war is escalating and spreading.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite this, several large left-wing commentators attempted to portray Robinson as right-wing, frequently spreading misinformation in the process.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2025
But, so too, did fears of synthetic organisms also begin spreading surprisingly early in the previous century.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
Kindergarten vaccination rates against measles was 82% at the epicenter of the outbreak, well below the 95% needed to achieve herd immunity and prevent measles from spreading.
—Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Along the western side, crews will work along the Sycamore Ridge Road to prevent the fire from spreading south and west.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Work from the outside edges to keep the stain from spreading.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
The bristles are neither too floppy nor too stiff, neither too long nor too short, and are cut to the perfect rounded shape that’s just right for swirling pigment over the apples or spreading it along your cheekbones—without having to work too hard for a completely natural finish.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, Jones ran it to near perfection, spreading the ball around to Bourne, Jauan Jennings, Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges before hitting McCaffrey on a 7-yard score in the right side of the end zone.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
The incursion was by far the largest-ever of Russian drones into NATO airspace, a move that has alarmed allied countries and fueled fears the war is escalating and spreading.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite this, several large left-wing commentators attempted to portray Robinson as right-wing, frequently spreading misinformation in the process.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2025
But, so too, did fears of synthetic organisms also begin spreading surprisingly early in the previous century.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
Kindergarten vaccination rates against measles was 82% at the epicenter of the outbreak, well below the 95% needed to achieve herd immunity and prevent measles from spreading.
—Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Along the western side, crews will work along the Sycamore Ridge Road to prevent the fire from spreading south and west.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Work from the outside edges to keep the stain from spreading.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreading
Adjective
-
The infectious energy and Justin Bieber-style appeal of 25-year-old country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman was not reflected in the CMA nominations.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
For example, a range of different infectious pathogens and diseases can lead to different chronic medical conditions such as COVID-19 leading to long COVID, human papillomavirus to cervical cancer, Helicobacter pylori to stomach ulcers and cancer, Epstein-Barr Virus to lymphoma.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To remember how these three women—and other journalists like them—got down to the business of reporting on what was happening, disseminating information to the masses and becoming a part of history, though none of them knew it at the time.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Producing, selling, or disseminating pornographic material for profit is punishable by life in prison.—
CNN Staff 20 hr ago,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The paper also highlights the potential of digital twins — virtual patient replicas that allow doctors to simulate treatments before applying them in real life.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
By applying Stoic principles, individuals can filter out the noise, focus on the controllable, and approach financial decisions with clarity rather than fear.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s also a tropical storm circulating, as if the gangsters flew in from the tropics.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Among the various alternatives circulating online, Bitchat stood out as a promising offline solution.—
Javier Bastardo,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hence, SpaceX’s EchoStar deal might drastically improve the service, which has already started to roll out support for transmitting satellite data to apps.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Sep. 2025
-
After launch, the satellite successfully entered orbit and began transmitting data, according to an update from the Israeli Ministry of Defense.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The train then collided with the trailer, separating it from the cab, breaking it into multiple parts and rolling it.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
-
New Jersey is creating a stand-alone Department of Veterans Affairs, separating it from military operations in a move aimed at improving oversight of services for veterans and their families.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By inserting an extra biochemical cycle into a model plant, the researchers boosted growth, seed yield, and fat production without increasing water demand.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
An increasing number of boys are lonely, isolated and confused, wrestling with the aftermath of the #MeToo movement and the expectations of rigid masculinity, which has been widely characterized as toxic.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To develop a whole-virus vaccine, researchers must first spend months isolating and propagating the virus.—
Deborah Fuller,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Continue propagating mature clumps by division in spring.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spreading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreading. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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