play (upon)

verb

Definition of play (upon)next
as in to exploit
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means played upon the customer's vanity to convince her to buy the expensive makeup kit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play (upon)
  1. exploit
  2. manipulate
Verb
  • Marco Tardelli, Italy vs West Germany, 1982 Italy exploit the space left behind as the Germans chase the game.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • That inconsistency may ultimately deliver advantages not to Europe, but to America, China, and every major power capable of exploiting its hesitation.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of exploit
Verb
  • Raving can be traced to the late 1980s, when artists like DJ Pierre and Spanky sparked a bright but short flame of acid house in Chicago clubs, manipulating synthesizers to create squelchy beats dancers could jack their bodies to.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
  • Today’s elite are going to extraordinary lengths to manipulate their microclimates, from morphing mansions to underground snow rooms.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026
Definition of manipulate
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.

Browse Nearby Words

play up
play (upon)
playwear
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Cite this Entry

“Play (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20%28upon%29. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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