SPREADING Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

spreading 1 of 2

adjective

as in infectious

exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others spreading enthusiasm that got our club rolling again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

spreading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of spread

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

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

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

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

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

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spreading

Verb

Newspapers in Arabic, Urdu and Persian, published in cities such as Bombay, now Mumbai, Calcutta, or Kolkata, Istanbul, London and Cairo helped in spreading religious and political ideas across the globe. — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 The wildfire started Saturday in Lassen County before spreading into Sierra County and Washoe County, prompting thousands of evacuations north of Reno. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Murakami said the market has become noticeably more international, with younger collectors, the holy grail among art dealers and auction houses, entering the category and demand spreading well beyond Japan. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 However, the situation didn't start spreading until a user, Michael Love, on Bluesky shared his account of the moment. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Authorities urged residents to rely on official information and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports while damage assessments continued. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 Doctors often monitor slow-moving tumors that are neither spreading nor causing symptoms, sparing patients unnecessary surgery or radiation. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026 This is another gut check of how far anti-incumbent sentiment is spreading in safely Democratic seats; Smith went on Breaking Points last month to defend himself and accuse Israel critics of being abusive. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026 According to the African Union's health agency, Africa CDC, the outbreak is spreading faster than any previous one and has already killed at least 600 people. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreading

Adjective

Now, measles – one of the single most infectious and virulent viruses – has recently re-appeared across America.

— Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Dayoung and Park have infectious chemistry, as they have both always been known individually as sexy and playful performers (without even trying).

— Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of infectious

Verb

No billion-dollar corporation changes or eliminates its operating policies without disseminating the replacement policy first.

— Joseph Landers, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
Jackie is fighting staff Friends of Big Bear Valley's Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam (FOBBV), in a July 21 email to USA TODAY, said the rescue is unable to take calls or emails and is only disseminating information on Jackie through social media.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Definition of disseminating

Verb

The exemption would be phased in beginning next January, initially applying to vehicles built before 1981 and expanding by one model year for five years.

— Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
One counterargument to the policy of applying economic pressure is that the US has been sanctioning Iran, like a handful of other nations, for decades without sparking meaningful political change.

— Magdalena Del Valle, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of applying

Verb

People interested in donating should visit the organizations' official websites directly rather than relying on donation links circulating through unfamiliar social media accounts or messages.

— Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
According to these circulating reports, the Japanese population too would also convert out of loyalty to their emperor.

— Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of circulating

Verb

Companies are developing robust, modular, and radiation-resilient solutions to filter and process information in space, transmitting only valuable insights.

— Ben Topor, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
An increasing number of cases does not mean the fungus is transmitting at a more rapid pace than usual.

— Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of transmitting

Verb

On the path through the cornfield separating the movie site from the stadium sits a bar and seating areas.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Monday’s announcement by the Republican president calls for separating combination shots — including the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine — into separate injections.

— Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of separating

Verb

But the drought is still hitting home with record-low water levels on the Danube River disrupting grain transport, causing chronically congested terminals and an increasing pileup of crops with nowhere to go.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Our city is not alone in the trend of increasing e-scooter injuries.

— Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of increasing

Verb

Instead, Shanahan recommends layering, a method of propagating new plants from a still-living thyme specimen.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Aug. 2026
Mai is propagating more than 170 varieties collected from refugees around the world, helping preserve these precious grains while studying which are best suited to our changing climate.

— Laura Mclively, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of propagating

Cite this Entry

Style

“Spreading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreading. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of spreading

adjective

verb

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