Synonyms of plasternext
1
: a medicated or protective dressing that consists of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a usually medicated substance
adhesive plaster
broadly : something applied to heal and soothe
2
: a pasty composition (as of lime, water, and sand) that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions

plaster

2 of 2

verb

transitive verb

1
: to overlay or cover with plaster : coat
2
: to apply a plaster to
3
a
: to cover over or conceal as if with a coat of plaster
b
: to apply as a coating or incrustation
c
: to smooth down with a sticky or shiny substance
plastered his hair down
4
: to fasten or apply tightly to another surface
5
: to treat with plaster of paris
6
: to affix to or place on especially conspicuously or in quantity
7
: to inflict heavy damage or loss on especially by a concentrated or unremitting attack

intransitive verb

: to apply plaster

Examples of plaster in a Sentence

Noun put a plaster on the burn and don't touch it Verb We plastered and sanded the walls before painting them. They plastered the walls with posters. Someone had plastered a political poster on the wall. His clothes were plastered to his body from the rain. He plastered his hair down with gel.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
New insulation, electrical wiring and panels, interior plumbing lines and ductwork are hidden behind plaster and millwork that feel right for the era. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Hsu’s argument for why the near-monochrome restaurant doesn’t go flat is that the palette itself runs on tension, with the statement-making veined marble behind the point-of-sale area set against rough plaster walls. Alexis Benveniste, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Jenner, known for splashing out on lavish events, turned to colorful rhinestone decor to celebrate the milestone, and even plastered gemstones across plastic cups and one of her two birthday cakes. Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Building affordable housing at scale means politicians need to break up with wealthy special interests like the construction accident lawyers who plaster the city and MTA buses with billboards and ads. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaster

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin emplastrum, from Greek emplastron, from emplassein to plaster on, from en- + plassein to mold, plaster; perhaps akin to Latin planus level, flat — more at floor

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plaster was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaster. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

plaster

1 of 2 noun
1
: a medicated or protective dressing consisting of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a substance that clings to the skin
adhesive plaster
2
: a paste (as of lime, water, and sand) that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls and ceilings

plaster

2 of 2 verb
1
: to apply a plaster to
2
: to cover over as if with a coat of plaster
3
: to smooth down with a sticky or shiny substance
plastered my hair down
4
: to fasten or apply tightly to another surface
wet clothes plastered to his body
5
: to affix to or place on especially in large numbers
plaster posters to a wall
6
: to apply plaster

Medical Definition

: a medicated or protective dressing that consists of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a usually medicated substance
adhesive plaster

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