plaything

noun

play·​thing ˈplā-ˌthiŋ How to pronounce plaything (audio)

Examples of plaything in a Sentence

VCRs were once the expensive, high-tech playthings of the rich. We mustn't let the environment become the plaything of oil companies. The emperor used people as his playthings.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That’s how the elites in Industry, like the ones in the real world, can treat people like playthings. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026 But, as Michtom discovered with the Teddy bear, the priorities of the new childhood, coupled with the growing prosperity of American society, had also created a demand for material playthings. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 From time to time, visitors to the house, not realizing these squeaky balls were offspring and not playthings, would pick one up and throw it for her. Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026 Over Trump’s past year, what originally looked like an effort to make the government his personal plaything has drifted distinctly toward doctrinal and operational fascism. Jonathan Rauch, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaything

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plaything was circa 1674

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Cite this Entry

“Plaything.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaything. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

plaything

noun
play·​thing -ˌthiŋ How to pronounce plaything (audio)

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