game 1 of 2

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as in play
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously there's no need to get upset, all our teasing is only a game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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game

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun game differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of game are fun, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When could fun be used to replace game?

While in some cases nearly identical to game, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

When can jest be used instead of game?

While the synonyms jest and game are close in meaning, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When is play a more appropriate choice than game?

The synonyms play and game are sometimes interchangeable, but play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

When might sport be a better fit than game?

The meanings of sport and game largely overlap; however, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

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 game
Noun
When Hill has 99 or fewer yards receiving, the Dolphins are 7-16 (.304) and average 18 points per game. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2025 The 6-foot-1 guard, who has a 6-6 wingspan, averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists during 36 games but saw his scoring jump to 16.1 points when he was inserted into the starting lineup for the last 15 contests to help Michigan State reach the Elite Eight. Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Adjective
The game will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN, with pre-game coverage beginning before the 8:00 PM ET puck drop. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 The excitement is heightened by additional events, including an annual mascot game at halftime, a pre-game clinic and the Teddy Toss. Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for game
Recent Examples of Synonyms for game
Noun
  • The experience allows guests to partake in their own personal tournament and enjoy the beautiful London weather.
    Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • He was put on a two-year probation by the Grand Slam Board in 2017 after insulting a female chair umpire at the U.S. Open and getting kicked out of that tournament.
    Howard Fendrich, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Their creative vision and cultural insight align seamlessly with our global strategy.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 July 2025
  • Brands must treat identity security as a central pillar of their enterprise strategy, not just a compliance requirement.
    Bojan Šimić, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
  • The backup quarterbacks haven’t always played well and play-calling hasn’t always been good.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Moreover, his commitment to the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship demonstrates respect for a key tenet of the profession of medicine.
    Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Any profession can corrupt its practitioners — and arts critics are no exception.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • To give a wider perspective, Texas has the worst flood heritage in the U.S., if this is defined in terms of discharge per rainfall area.
    Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • What Readers Loved The top 25 islands this year span a huge area: The northernmost winner is Bermuda (No. 10), located in the North Atlantic, while the southernmost include the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba (No. 11), Bonaire (No. 17), and Curaçao (No. 8), all just about 50 miles from Venezuela.
    Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Hayden Hackney Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney looks ready to make the jump from the Championship to the Premier League.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 30 June 2025
  • The lawn outside has lettuce, spinach, beets, radishes, broccoli, summer squash sprouting, all ready to be planted in a garden.
    Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Their manager, Sarina Wiegman, has an extraordinary record in this competition, having won it with both the Netherlands and England.
    Darren Richman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • The Fourth of July competition is the Super Bowl of eating events, and after being away for a year, Chestnut is ready to make his return to glory.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Worries about environmental effects have also been at the forefront, as groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity and the Friends of the Everglades filed a lawsuit Friday to halt the detention center plans.
    Makiya Seminera, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • Muon Space plans for the constellation to be able to scan every point on Earth every 20 minutes, with more wildfire prone areas being scanned more frequently.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Game.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/game. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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