plied 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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plied

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of ply

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 plied
Verb
Much as Las Vegas casinos plied high rollers with gourmet meals and lavish entertainment, sports gaming apps are now rewarding VIP bettors with luxury suite access, autographed jerseys and unique fan experiences. — Jake Rosenwasser, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plied
Verb
  • The effects of these publications were hardly only theoretical, as Italian anarchists exerted a powerful influence on labor strikes.
    — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The military has exerted pressure on those outside the country through their passports.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The road was slick after showers and slid out and twisted like a long black tongue.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Because there’s not even a morsel of darkness in Verity’s star persona, neither Lowen nor Jeremy know how twisted the real woman is.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Thousands of people marched through central Brussels in a protest that was largely peaceful, although some scuffles broke out with police, who used tear gas and water cannons in some instances.
    — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • To fix this, researchers used Bayesian hierarchical distance sampling.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The heel of the shoe and its tongue tag also feature co-branding with Nigo and j-hope’s names on them and, instead of standard cotton laces, the sneakers have braided, multicolor ropes that pick up on the overall color scheme.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • While both goddess braids and boho braids are knotless styles with loose human or synthetic curls braided into some or all of the plaits, the amount of loose hair and where it’s placed is usually what’s up for debate.
    — Eden Stuart, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In July, new tariffs were applied to all EU steel imports in an effort to protect the continent’s industry from cheaper foreign competition.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Introduced in the 1890s, the law has rarely been applied to media organizations, particularly regarding their coverage.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • For now, the reception to the finding has been mixed, largely because of Tsiokos’s significant use of generative AI in the proof.
    — Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026
  • It was painted using a technique in which pigments are mixed with molten wax, and restorers were able to recover the features of the brother on the right.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The problem is that potential feedstocks are so easily contaminated, especially in fashion — an industry obsessed with novelty and differentiation, where polyester might be embellished with sequins, or cotton might be blended with elastane.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda until blended.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Through more than a dozen conversations with the cast and writers, Deadline has weaved together an oral history of the series from those nerve-wracking early days on Season 1 to the bittersweet end of production in December 2025.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Wake Forest nearly overcame a holding penalty that set up third and 24 when Lopez completed a pass to Hernandez, who weaved and broke his way through the defense for a 21-yard gain.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Plied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plied. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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