1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
decided he would indulge in a friendly basketball game with his friends before dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in plans
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
the crook told his accomplice, "Here's the game: look surprised when the police ask about the money"
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in professions
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
stand-up comedy is his game, and he's one of a handful of people making a decent living at it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in areas
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence
the education game simply was no longer of interest to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 games
Here's what to know about getting your hands on the games.
—
Greta Cross, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
For just the 11th time in 55 games this season, the Lakers had Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves sharing the court together.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Our priority today is to build a more focused, agile company, with stronger teams that strike the right balance between senior expertise and young talent and who are well positioned to deliver the highest quality games.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Most of the Chicago Cubs’ projected opening-day roster doesn’t have experience with it, beyond some exposure during Cactus League games in 2025.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Greta Cross, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
For just the 11th time in 55 games this season, the Lakers had Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves sharing the court together.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Our priority today is to build a more focused, agile company, with stronger teams that strike the right balance between senior expertise and young talent and who are well positioned to deliver the highest quality games.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Most of the Chicago Cubs’ projected opening-day roster doesn’t have experience with it, beyond some exposure during Cactus League games in 2025.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for games
Noun
-
The experience factor also favors Canada, which won the last two tournaments featuring NHL players.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The anglers who helped promote Dual Threat Fishing and competed in the league’s first (and only) two tournaments are now saying they were ripped off by DTF.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The agents asked for daily medical updates, whether patients had the cognitive ability to understand paperwork that was given to them and details about discharge dates and plans.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The bill also includes confidentiality provisions that indicate information on serious reportable events relayed to DIAL by a professional licensing board, as well as any corrective action plans, are to be sealed from public view.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Salaries for teachers who have stayed in the classroom and have continued to advance their skills should be increased; there’s no reason a teacher should be capped at around $80,000 when other professions face no such limitations.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Like Lamont, Republicans are calling for eliminating occupational license fees for certain professions, including plumbers, electricians, teachers, and speech and language pathologists.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From 2021 to 2024 enrollment growth in the county’s wealthiest areas was triple that in the poorest.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
No European football for only the second time since English clubs were allowed back into UEFA competitions in 1990 means far fewer games.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Honig is starting to prepare his two girls and one boy for future basketball competitions.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But cultural practitioners and animal advocates oppose killing chickens, citing their significance to Hawaiian heritage and arguing all other strategies should be exhausted first.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
And with the proliferation of small presses and the ascendance of self publishing as viable, if less expeditious or prestigious strategies for writers, even the indifference of mainstream publishers is not always the final word.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Invest in fiction written by humans and so support human creativity, vocations, and organic economies?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
While their vocations may seem contradictory, their love is born in faith, rooted in romance, and is much more than meets the eye.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The rivalry is also spilling into other realms, including the Super Bowl.—
Matt O’Brien,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
However, after people serve their time in the hells, they can be reborn in other realms.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/games. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
