He spake, 'twas done; and Palinurus first / turns the prow leftward: to the left we ply / with oars and sail, and shun the rocks accurst.
Source: tatoeba (7336212)
Ply
/plaɪ/
Synonyms for "ply" (273 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (55)
Strong matches (82)
doubledouble a pointdouble overdoublingdunduplicatureemployenfoldexerciseexertexert pressurefeelfeel offetch aboutfeuillefilmfingerflapflectionflexure
Show 51 more words
flickflounceflutefoilfoldfold overforce uponfrillfunctiongathergo aboutgo by shipgo on shipboardgo overgo to seagybehandleheave roundimportuneinfoldinsistinterfoldjibejibe all standinglamellalaminalaminated glasslaminated woodlaplap overlapellappetleafluffluff upmake a passagemake use ofmanagemaneuvermanipulatemeasuremembranemiss staysmotorboatnagnag atnavigateoperateoverpasspalmpalpate
Related words (136)
panepanelpass overpass throughpatinapatrolpawpeelpellicleperambulateperegrinatepererratepesterpinchplagueplaitplankplatplateplating
Show 99 more words
playpleatplicaplicateplicationplicatureply uponplywoodpokepoke atpracticepresspress uponpressureprodpushpush uponput aboutput backput forthput outquillrangerange overrasherreconnoiterround a pointrowrucheruchingruffrufflerunsafety glasssailsail finesail roundsail the seascourscour the countryscoutscullscumseafaresheersheetshiftskinslabslatslewslicesteamsteamboatsweepswerveswingswing roundswing the sterntabletablettacktake a voyagetapteasethrowthrow aboutthrust uponthumbtouchtouch the windtracktransittravel overtravel throughtraversetuckturnturn backturn overtwiddletwillurgeurge uponuseutilizeveerveneervoyagewaferwearwear shipwheedlewieldwindworkwork onyachtyaw
Noun(14 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: about ship, apply, apply pressure, back and fill, bear away.
- Sentence evidence is available for ply, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ply".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ply"
Keep "ply" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ply" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ply", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ply" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
29 entriesShowing 16 of 29 words.
More specific
15 entriesCollocations
18 entriesfour-ply insulationmulti-ply fabricplies a tradeplies customers with informationplies his craftplies the riverplies the roadply a routethree plythree ply fabricthree ply ropethree-ply napkintwo plytwo ply fabrictwo ply ropetwo-ply paper
Showing 16 of 18 words.
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
6 entriessimilar
2 entriesblack marketrun
Sample sentences
39 total sentences available.
Craig remembered seeing indigenous San bushmen ply their tracking skills in southern Africa’s Central Kalahari Desert 20 years earlier.
Source: tatoeba (9028386)
It made the world smaller, creating a shortcut for cargo ships that ply their trade from east and west.
Source: tatoeba (11189154)
two-ply toilet paper
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 39 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ply"?
Closest matches include about ship, apply, apply pressure, back and fill, bear away.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ply"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.