Synonyms of rays

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beams
• shafts
• sunbeams
• lasers
• moonbeams
• spotlights
• sunbursts

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• glimmers
• splashes
• specks
• sprinklings
• touches
• hints
• little
• bits
• particles
• shadows
• licks
• sparks
• shades
• traces
• streaks
• dabs
• flecks
• slivers
• bites
• spatters
• spots
• handfuls
• nips
• ounces
• driblets
• mites
• smells
• peanuts
• crumbs
• drams
• shreds
• suspicions
• smacks
• molecules
• soupçons
• strains
• scruples
• aces
• drops
• atoms
• dashes
• snaps
• scintillas
• smidgens
• parts
• skoshes
• grains
• dots
• motes
• pinches
• drops in the bucket
• patches
• doses
• fragments
• syllables
• portions
• granules
• nibbles
• tastes
• minima
• vestiges
• iotas
• sections
• splinters
• minims
• semblances
• morsels
• scraps
• scatterings
• shards
• nubbins
• whits
• chips
• jots
• shivers
• flyspecks
• flakes
• modicums
• smatterings
• hoots
• tittles
• shavings
• smatters
• clippings
• shots
• smithereens
• parings
• tatters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• masses
• quantities
• mountains
• loads
• bundles
• piles
• barrels
• bushels
• deals
• abundances
• lots
• buckets
• rafts
• stacks
• heaps
• reams
• pecks
• gobs
• scads
• oodles
• wads
• volumes
• boatloads
• fistfuls
• wealths
• messes
• lashings
• profusions
• much
• excesses
• potfuls
• surpluses
• plenties
• passels
• slabs
• overflows
• embarrassments
• superfluities
• bonanzas
• chunks
• overages
• overmuch
• lumps
• hunks
• overabundances
• surfeits
• oversupplies
• overkills
• superabundances

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

• shines
• beams
• glows
• flashes
• radiates
• gleams
• flares
• flickers
• flames
• glimmers
• shimmers
• glitters
• illumines
• burns
• glints
• glistens
• sparkles
• lights
• twinkles
• glares
• blazes
• beats (down)
• fires
• irradiates
• sheens
• spangles
• illuminates
• luminesces
• blinds
• glisters
• scintillates
• winks
• brightens
• lusters
• lightens
• winkles
• blinks
• coruscates
• dazzles
• dazes
• bedazzles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkens
• lowers
• blackens

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• radiates
• branches
• emanates
• flows
• stems
• diverges
• fans (out)
• derives
• diffuses
• proceeds
• splits
• dissipates
• spreads
• disperses
• scatters
• arises
• parts
• springs
• dispels
• divides
• unyokes
• separates
• forks
• ramifies
• issues
• splays
• unlinks
• uncouples

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• focuses
• meets
• approaches
• concentrates
• converges
• funnels
• centers (on)
• couples
• links
• nears
• connects
• joins
• closes in (on)
• unites
• centralizes

Example Sentences

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