sport 1 of 2

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2
as in game
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously teasing that began in sport ended with some hateful words being exchanged

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in ridicule
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something taught their children that it was not polite to make sport of others

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of had become the long-suffering sport of the village

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sport

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sport differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sport are fun, game, jest, and play. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

When is fun a more appropriate choice than sport?

The synonyms fun and sport are sometimes interchangeable, but fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How are the words game and sport related?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

Where would jest be a reasonable alternative to sport?

The meanings of jest and sport largely overlap; however, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When can play be used instead of sport?

In some situations, the words play and sport are roughly equivalent. However, play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

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 sport
Noun
Shell told analysts that the UFC’s year-round schedule will be a boon particularly for CBS, which has its big sports investments clustered around the fall and winter NFL schedule and spring NCAA tournament. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025 Ellison has been investing heavily in streaming and content, including live sports rights, and paying for it in part with cuts to other parts of the business. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Following a robust start to the season, Golden State has fallen down to earth a bit of late, and now sports a fairly pedestrian 5-4 overall record. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025 Brown coordinate with her husband's look by sporting a new reddish hair color, wearing her strands pulled back into a glamorous updo. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sport
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sport
Noun
  • But recreations of the 1963, 1964, and 1965 festivals were shown almost entirely from the perspective of Bob Dylan, and the film stretched historical truth well past its breaking point in quite a few scenes.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Disproportionately high property taxes are one telltale sign of a city trapped in a cycle of municipal debt, and so are weak public services—underfunded schools, underpaid teachers, aging recreation centers, sewer systems in need of an upgrade.
    Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Should the Tigers end up missing a bowl game, the noise will grow much louder.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Then Heat forward Nikola Jovic threw the perfect inbounds pass to find Wiggins for the game-winning alley-oop dunk at the final buzzer.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Dick Cheney was an unapologetic hawk in military affairs as defense secretary and vice president, but his shooting an acquaintance in a hunting accident became a source of ridicule.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
  • In the mayoral race between Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, Adams was relegated to an afterthought, an object of ridicule and scorn.
    Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The comedy is a tonal mess, veering between underdeveloped jokes and unearned sentiment.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
  • How did Joy nearly die in the wilderness of Colorado, a place that, in a joke the film keeps repeating, is almost all white people?
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Besides Adebayo, Miami’s only other available center was two-way contract player Vlad Goldin, who arrived from a G-League assignment but did not play.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The three titles that were won with fewer than 90 points were wrapped up with at least three games still to play, which led to an easing off in the final weeks.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Get ready to dance off your Thanksgiving dinner and kick off the holiday season with a night of funk, fun, and giving back.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Today the Moon in your sign is dancing with fair Venus creating pleasant feelings between you and everyone else.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Not surprisingly, the younger newcomers don’t display quite the same flair yet, but there’s obviously room to grow with a fourth film in the series already announced.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
  • While in his home, the painting was a jewel of his collection, first displayed in his living room, then relocated to his dining room to make room for a large Cubist work by Fernand Léger, according to the art historian Emily Braun, who worked as Lauder’s art advisor for nearly four decades.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Researchers suggested that future studies should include people who actually experience tingles to better understand how ASMR might help with mental health and relaxation.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
  • They’re marketed as a natural way to reduce inflammation, ease muscle pain, and promote relaxation or sleep post-workout.
    Ali Nolan, Outside, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sport. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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