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
The dust has nearly settled in the seventh week of the 2025 NFL season and there were some massive games on the docket that saw Super Bowl contenders pick up huge victories. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025 Tagovailoa has played 21 games since that 2023 Christmas Eve game, one of the now-distant happy memories of the Mike McDaniel/Tagovailoa era. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The Chiefs are back, just as quickly as they were dismissed, and that’s in more than ways than post-game one-liners exuding some confidence after a convincing 30-17 win against the red-hot Lions. Sam McDowell 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025 Unfortunately, in Week 6, before taking on the Arizona Cardinals, Richardson suffered a pre-game injury. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for game
Recent Examples of Synonyms for game
Noun
  • Back in April after defeating the Grizzlies in the play-in tournament, Kerr wore a Harvard shirt to the postgame podium, showing support to a university that was under fire by the administration.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The Duchess of Sussex later shared a compilation of videos and pictures from the tournament on her Instagram Stories.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Supporting the Army’s next phase The M-SHORAD Increment 4 effort is a major part of the Army’s broader modernization strategy.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The county added jobs beginning in July 2023 and new strategies to improve efficiency, according to the statement.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On the play Warner got hurt, the 49ers were missing a right defensive end, and coaches mistakenly assumed practice-squad call-up Trevis Gipson stayed on the field to fill that role after racing down on kickoff coverage and making the initial hit on a tackle.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The quarterback play simply isn’t good enough to out-score opponents, or even force them into pass-heavy play scripts.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Earlier this year, the Washington Post reported that computer-programmer employment dropped to its lowest level since the 1980s—one profession that has been hit hardest over the past few years.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The problem of teacher vacancies at MPS — a nationwide issue as fewer graduates enter the profession — has been pervasive and troublesome.
    Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • No injuries were reported from the incident, which took place in an area where the highway patrol had stopped traffic during the live fire exercise at Camp Pendleton, the agency said in a statement Sunday.
    Susannah Cullinane, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The release noted terrain in the area can be rugged and steep and cautioned visitors to stay a safe distance from the edge.
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • At this point, players are ready to start making picks on the NFL, NHL, NBA or any other sport this weekend.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Once on campus, he’s drawn into the intense world of Black Greek life, where rival fraternities battle through stepping competitions that blend rhythm, tradition, and pride.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Of their 16 meetings in all competitions between August 2004 and August 2007, 10 featured one goal or fewer.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The municipal panel that oversees the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority endorsed the five-year rate plan in June.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Next summer, the plan is for a barge to bring over the drilling rig to start the first well.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Game.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/game. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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