as in exploited
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 played (upon)
Verb
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The same elements—lack of lighting, cell phone service, and CCTV—that make a place enticing for outdoor enthusiasts are easily exploited by criminals.—
Katie Jackson,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026 -
Although the machines aren't connected to the internet, an examination found software vulnerabilities that could be exploited if someone gained physical access.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Warren cited the possibility that Grok could leak classified information to adversaries, be manipulated based on biased or inaccurate data, or lack critical safety controls and put service members in danger.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
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The situation might have been manipulated but their reactions remain natural even if slightly tentative.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Played (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played%20%28upon%29. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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