PLIED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

plied 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of ply

as in exerted

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively she plied all of her charm and intelligence to convince everyone to volunteer as tutors

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plied

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of ply

as in twisted

to cause to twine about one another two single yarns were plied together to get the fabric that smooth, firm feel

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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 plied

Verb

The partnership between two outsiders clawing their way in, joined by an equally canny journalist played by Claire Foy, comes to shape Fleet Street, the London thoroughfare where scribblers plied their trade, in Lamb’s and Murdoch’s images. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 The lakes are medieval peat diggings that were flooded by rising seas in the 14th century, and long plied by cargo boats known as wherries. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 9 Aug. 2026 There were no global superstars, and only a couple of players at genuinely elite clubs like Benfica and Villarreal; most plied their trade well outside football’s spotlight. — André Martin, Fortune, 16 July 2026 Tsietsi sent one of them to the front as a lookout, while the others eagerly plied him with questions about his activities. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 As Levenson makes clear, these three arguments have been plied for as long as vaccines have. — Diana Gitig, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2026 In Whitman’s time, 70 different steam ferries plied Gotham’s waters. — Julia Press, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026 Davis plied his trade in Reno, Nevada, at a time when the American West was developing into a manufacturing hub at breakneck speed. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 May 2026 While virtually every other draftable player was in a power conference this year, Graves plied his trade for the third-place team in the West Coast Conference. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plied

Verb

Will challenges often allege that someone exerted undue influence over the testator or that the testator had diminished mental capacity.

— Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Many lived in company towns, where coal operators owned their homes and stores and ultimately exerted enormous control over their daily lives.

— Katie Angell Britannica Editors Aug. 27, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of exerted

Verb

After a fan interfered with the ball, resulting in an automatic out, Bericoto turned away to avoid being hit in the face but twisted his knee.

— Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Auf der Maur, in white, is twisted away from the audience, staring intently at the lens.

— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of twisted

Verb

Her glossy hair, braided into two plaits, hung down over her shoulders in a style unusual for young girls these days.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Rebecca wore her simple weekday covering over her hair, which had been pulled back in a ponytail, then braided and pinned up on the back of her head.

— Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of braided

Verb

Text that has been heavily rewritten, paraphrased, translated, or mixed with other writing may lose enough of Claude's statistical pattern to become undetectable.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
Comments on Haaland's Instagram post teasing the cut are mixed, with some fans loving the update and others mourning the loss of that platinum ponytail.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026