PLAYER Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

player

noun

ˈplā-ər

Definition of player

as in instrumentalist

a person who plays a musical instrument a horn player

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in actor

one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) a troupe of players used to give performances on the town green

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in participant

one who takes part in something a significant player in the negotiations

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 player Instead of running the ball, Seattle put its faith in backup quarterback Drew Lock, who found Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a short route before the reigning offensive player of the year did the rest. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026 Then, after kick-off, the players gathered with their arms around each other and stood still for the first 30 seconds. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Bankruptcy filings show the league owes millions of dollars in unpaid compensation to top players, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 The news comes a year after the trio was first split up going into season 51, with Ben Marshall joining the cast as a featured player, Herlihy staying as a writer, and John Higgins moving on to other opportunities. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for player

Recent Examples of Synonyms for player

Noun

Even Rodrigo’s backing band, full of absolutely shredding women instrumentalists, played beside her on equal footing for exquisitely tasteful, post-punky revisions of songs across her three albums.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The announcement could go after the one about what to do if the theater is overrun by period instrumentalists.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of instrumentalist

Noun

The Golden Eye Award honors actors and actresses who shape the current cinematic year while also ranking among the most significant performers of their generation.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
The actor describes the Marvel series as a Frankenstein tale about identity.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of actor

Noun

Wonder, a Grammy Award-winning musician 25 times over, last performed in Chicago as the headliner of the opening celebration for the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park in June.

— Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Live musicians include Remnant Sol, Mark Bray & Steel Soul Cowboys, Soulstice, Spellbound, Chuggalug, The Hazmatics, and more.

— The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of musician

Noun

Aidan Hutchinson, at this stage of his career, is a perennial 12-sack, 100-pressure performer when healthy.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Guo is considered the country’s most prominent performer of traditional xiangsheng, a form of Chinese comedic dialogue using word play and rhymes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of performer

Noun

Was hearing Roland Hayes and, in time, other inspiring artists sing Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann songs like being beckoned by a musical brook to trust her instincts and follow its unlikely path?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
That’s the route for a lot of alt rock artists having to do the radio shows, lay the groundwork, and not just have a hit blow up and have people throw money at you.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of artist

Noun

The Broadway legend famously won a Tony Award at 20 in 1991 for her heartfelt portrayal of Kim in Miss Saigon, becoming the first Asian actress to be recognized by the honor.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026
And at the Telluride Film Festival, the French actress is featured in three-high profile films that couldn’t be more different—but what remains consistent is Seydoux’s transfixing work onscreen.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of actress

Browse Nearby Words

played (with)

player

players

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Style

“Player.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/player. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of player

noun

Example Sentences

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