mind game

noun

: a psychological tactic used to manipulate or intimidate

—usually used in plural

played mind games with his opponent

Examples of mind game in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Treating it like a mind game, keeping one’s cards close to the vest, always holding back, and refusing to be vulnerable is what has brought us here. —Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 25 June 2025

The format pits betrayal against detection in an ultimate mind game. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 May 2025

The third episode is a two-hander, with Cooper and Doherty going head-to-head in an unfolding mind game — a conversation spiked with moments of anger, vulnerability and horror, contained primarily in a single room, with none of the mechanical mastery required by the previous episode. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025

Jrue Holiday says Warriors tried 'mind game' on wrong person Netflix's golf series is back. —New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mind game

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• inflame
• mainframe