as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
I'm just played out after the week I've had
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spent
to make complete use of
we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of played out
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
This vital conversation of what to do about it has played out in these chambers for well over a decade.
—Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The same story played out in music, where AI tools lowered barriers to entry but platform economics still favored a few giants.
—Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for played out
Adjective
This is all being played out amid the backdrop of Netflix’s audacious swoop for WBD, which will give Netflix control over two of the world’s biggest streaming services.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
This vital conversation of what to do about it has played out in these chambers for well over a decade.
—Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
The mountainous region is one of various points in the state where a turf war has played out for more than a year between two rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The same story played out in music, where AI tools lowered barriers to entry but platform economics still favored a few giants.
—Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for played out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played out
Adjective
-
While a few icons have grown tired (like the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Eden Roc Miami Beach, missing from this list), several have recently poured money into renovations, including the Mayfair House and Gardens; Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, which just reopened; and the Delano Miami.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Bell remembered during the Stars on Ice tour in 2022 when the skaters rolled into a new city, tired, groggy and sore from the long bus ride, Liu, dressed in a baggy hoodie and billowing sweatpants, could go on the ice and throw perfect jumps without warning.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nebraska, meanwhile, has spent the last quarter-century chasing memories.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The nurses in the Pitt have spent the most time with Louie over the years, and his death would hit them hard.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But on the day the deal closed last week, Esnard sounded less jubilant and more exhausted.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Marc Maron, who helmed his engaging and transgressive interview show WTF for 13 years, is a Jersey Boy who sounds plaintive and exhausted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Love may be in the air this Valentine’s Day, but Berlin had better get ready to be consumed by Lust.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Ogden consumed Newell’s videos like candy.—
Bill Donahue,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Clearly the consumer is tapped out.—
Robert Barone,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The first movie tapped out with $86.1 million but became a sleeper hit on home entertainment, while the sequel ended its run with $174.3 million.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
-
Country Day had rallied from a 14-point second-period deficit, trailing 23-9, when senior Jack Wegman drained a trio of three-pointers to key a 15-4 Falcons streak that narrowed the gap to 27-24 at intermission.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The expropriations, along with the firings, consolidated state control of the oil sector and, experts say, drained the country of expertise and investment, inflicting lasting damage.—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Those are just a few of the clever software-as-a-service portmanteaus being tossed around as investors debate a massive selloff in the sector that has vaporized roughly $1 trillion in valuations from recent highs, with more than $285 billion in market value wiped out in February alone.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The federal Energy Information Administration said the winter storm that hit a large swath of the country in late January wiped out gas storage, driving up prices that will remain high in the coming months.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As Russia reduced flows, prices spiked, pushing up energy bills and helping fuel a cost of living crisis.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Ultimately, the report states, about 1% of the district’s more than 83,000 employees are likely to lose a job or have their pay reduced.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Played out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played%20out. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
