rays 1 of 2

noun

plural of ray
1
as in beams
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object two red eyes reflected in the ray of light from the flashlight

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2
as in glimmers
a very small amount the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rays

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ray
1
as in shines
to emit rays of light klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in radiates
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes

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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 rays
Noun
Persistently bleak under the rays of the California sun, Artificial (now under the aegis of Anora studio Neon) is the movie of the moment — the origin story of our current AI quagmire at the literal, psychological and pretty much every other level. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 With methane—a potent greenhouse gas—ousted from the atmosphere, and the creation of the UV-protective ozone layer (which still shields us from the sun’s rays today), the Earth began to cool and experienced one of its earliest ice ages. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 Physicists have found a solution in muons, which are heavy subatomic particles created using powerful lasers that can easily pass through dense materials that stop X-rays in their tracks. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 These rays can damage the delicate electronics on satellites. — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026 The failure was bad news for scientists who rely on data from Swift, which has unique capabilities combining sensitivity to gamma rays, X-rays, and visible light with the agility to quickly turn toward astronomical targets. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026 More than 60 percent of its surface incorporates translucent photovoltaic panels, and its glass features low-emissivity properties, filters infrared radiation and protects against UV rays. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026 Coach Todd Bowles said X-rays were negative, but Mayfield will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 Bright rays mark material blasted outward by relatively recent impacts, while vast, dark lunar seas lie where basaltic lava flooded ancient craters. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
Scientists have long grouped sharks together as a natural evolutionary unit, meaning every shark species shares a common ancestor that rays and skates do not. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rays
  1. beams
  2. glimmers
  3. shines
  4. radiates
  5. splashes
  6. glows
  7. branches
  8. specks
Noun
  • Crisp, white linens and white curtains are a striking counterpoint, with texture arriving in unfinished, stone support beams.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For months before today’s launch, Google has been anticipating those problems on Earth, shaking spacecraft to simulate the launch and bombarding its chips with proton beams to test their response to radiation.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of beams
Noun
  • Viewers get only glimmers of the characters’ personalities and backgrounds, but the show offers enough detail and texture to understand how Season 1 might unfold.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
  • These sensual glimmers are no match for the antagonistic sociality of straight male relationships, which, in this novel, quickly convert sympathy or desire into rivalry and aggression.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of glimmers
Verb
  • Now in its fifth year, the Albies is the Clooney Foundation’s annual ceremony, which shines an international spotlight on courageous individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice, often at great personal risk.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But where Kamalame Cay really shines is with its portfolio of villas that can house between 4 and 12 guests, ranging in size, architecture, and vantage point to meet the needs of every type of vacationer.
    — Joey Skladany, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of shines
Verb
  • Zuckerberg is played by shapeshifter du jour Jeremy Strong, who radiates a kind of robotic clamminess.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
  • One of them was Maggie Bieritz, one of those people who radiates joy and wit.
    — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of radiates
Noun
  • Jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke, however, plays wild splashes of melody on an electric piano in the empty spaces between Waits’s lines.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Topping up the battery takes 90 minutes, according to Shift Robotics, and an IP54 rating means the shoes shrug off splashes but would not enjoy a swim.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of splashes
Verb
  • Show Caption 1 of 43 A Chicago Bears digital billboard glows at sunrise just off of Route 53 at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The tool relies on a soluble liquid substitute that glows during the reaction, reducing measurement times to minutes and enabling rapid evaluation of large libraries of enzyme variants.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of glows
Verb
  • His demise, paired with the disappearance of mobster-type Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), sets the trio on the first phase of their adventures, which inevitably branches into fresh red herrings in customary Only Murders fashion.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of branches
Noun
  • Calcium shows up as bright white specks on the coronary artery images.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Pulse a few times, until crumbs range in size from specks to peas.
    — Leah Eskin, Midwest Living, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of specks

Browse Nearby Words

rayless
rays
raze
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Cite this Entry

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

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