PLAY (ON OR UPON) Synonyms: 24 Similar Words

play (on or upon)

verb

Definition of play (on or upon)

as in to use

to take unfair advantage of the candidate played on the voters' prejudices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play (on or upon)

Verb

Hundreds of people with stereo systems, disco balls, tents, kegs and mattresses left huge amounts of trash, set off fireworks and used Tunitas Creek Beach as a bathroom during all-night events.

— Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Carrick using Mbeumo as a centre-forward is not new — but the way United’s forward line is gelling around him is.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

Motor vehicle theft, which had spiked in 2022 and 2023 following a social media challenge that helped people exploit a manufacturing issue in some models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, dropped by almost 23% to the lowest levels in more than 20 years.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
As noted by the NCSC, the vulnerability is being exploited when port 5900 is exposed to the Internet.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of exploit

Verb

Schmieder advocates for leveraging biotechnology to create regenerative, resilient cities that partner with nature, rather than working against it.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Grover added that Nuvation Bio will likely be able to accelerate revenue growth by leveraging its existing client base, particularly if taletrectinib proves to be effective as a first-line treatment for relatively long periods of time.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of leverage

Verb

Hilariously, the players figure out that they were manipulated on the unanimous Sam vote, and collectively decide that was the top-level metagame.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
The department has been further beleaguered by concerns that leaders manipulated crime statistics to boost its image.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

Iren shares, which are traded on the Nasdaq, soared 1,200% over six months last year as part of the AI boom.

— Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 June 2026
Even after landing two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade on Monday night, the work is not done for the Miami Heat.

— Anthony Chiang June 23, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026

Definition of trade on

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Browse Nearby Words

play-offs

play (on or upon)

play out

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“Play (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of play (on or upon)

verb

Example Sentences

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