as in used
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 played (on or upon)
Verb
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Authorities used night-vision equipment and conducted continuous overnight searches.—
Sofia Saric
June 16,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026 -
Millar used his swift reaction time to turn his body and anticipate where the pass was headed.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Almost 90 percent of global marine fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
They can be stolen, reused and exploited.—
Art Gilliland,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
According to figures from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 12 million people experience domestic and intimate partner violence annually, with approximately 24 people physically abused every minute.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
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Prosecutors detailed how Herbert allegedly groomed and abused the now 24-year-old victim for years.—
Aunya Butler,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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While figures like Hill, Bomani Jones, and Elle Duncan have leveraged their race to advance their careers, media companies have aggressively cut ties with white employees since 2020.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Brunson, the crafty undersized guard, leveraged that pressure by drawing two shooting fouls in as many possessions on three-point attempts.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
He’s been manipulated to believe that this is what’s necessary by his sister.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
The people drawing the lines manipulated the system for partisan advantage.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Played (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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