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 -
During the Spain vs Cape Verde game on Monday, ITV showed how the breaks can be used in a different way.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Not to mention that the previous tournament in 2022 was hosted by Qatar, where migrant workers were exploited during stadium construction.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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Time and again, mathematicians have uncovered features in fluids that have this astonishing symmetry and exploited it to make the math manageable.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
11 June 2026
Verb
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None of those mothers were found to have abused or neglected their children.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 June 2026
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Moreover, the states often abused their authority, both over their own citizens and with regard to each other.—
Jordan Cash,
The Conversation,
8 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
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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 17 Jun. 2026.
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