1
as in instrumentalists
a person who plays a musical instrument
a horn player
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in actors
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
3
as in participants
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 players
The only unavailable Heat players were the three-way contract trio of Vlad Goldin, Trevor Keels and Jahmir Young, who are all in the G League.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
In the process, the Bulls refused to shut down players such as center Jalen Smith, who finally was shut down for the season this week after reaggravating a calf injury once again in Wednesday’s game.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Iran's players sing the national anthem, holding school bags symbolizing children killed at a school in Minab, before a soccer match between Iran and Nigeria, in Antalya, Turkey, on March 27, 2026.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Kansas City Royals players gathered in the visiting clubhouse at Truist Park.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
The momentum continued this season as TCU is back in the Sweet Sixteen with 10 new players and a 31-5 record.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The show’s signature brutal violence, blood, guts and gore are still hyper-present, but the terror among the players, including Gin-hun, who has experienced it all before, remains palpable.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
Both players added subtle personal style to the holiday ensemble.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
In the process, the Bulls refused to shut down players such as center Jalen Smith, who finally was shut down for the season this week after reaggravating a calf injury once again in Wednesday’s game.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Iran's players sing the national anthem, holding school bags symbolizing children killed at a school in Minab, before a soccer match between Iran and Nigeria, in Antalya, Turkey, on March 27, 2026.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Kansas City Royals players gathered in the visiting clubhouse at Truist Park.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
The momentum continued this season as TCU is back in the Sweet Sixteen with 10 new players and a 31-5 record.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The show’s signature brutal violence, blood, guts and gore are still hyper-present, but the terror among the players, including Gin-hun, who has experienced it all before, remains palpable.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
Both players added subtle personal style to the holiday ensemble.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for players
Noun
-
Community members of all ages are invited to participate as soloists, duets, small groups or instrumentalists.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The latter features performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, instrumentalists and other creators actively working in the recording industry.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kiarostami had made films mostly with nonprofessional actors, often about rural people of modest means.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The story highlights Dilan as a strong female lead, while the main actors — initially new faces — have rapidly gained huge popularity, building large fan bases and reaching over one million followers each on Instagram.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Almost half of participants hit snooze on more than 80 percent of days, with heavy snoozers spending an average of 20 extra minutes in bed each morning.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That uncertainty is beginning to show up in markets — particularly in oil — where industry participants are sounding serious alarms about the fallout of a prolonged conflict.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Stand-up partially originated here in the West Village of the 1950s, at coffeehouses where folk musicians and beatnik poets also performed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The musicians presumably had to rely heavily on loops in order to finish their tracks before the buzzer went off, and something is always slamming, scratching, or puttering away in the background.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alaska, Hawaiian are consistent performers The AQR also singled out Alaska Airlines as the steadiest performer in the industry.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And in doing so, Gunther often lulls crowds into becoming sporting event spectators rather than the raucous participators that most other wrestlers try to draw out of them.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The layout of the common areas is reminiscent of traditional ancient Roman housing (there are a lot of curves), albeit with bright walls plastered with contemporary artwork by local and international artists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The show will include works by about 50 artists from across the country, along with live music, kids’ activities and wine, beer and gourmet bites.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chameleonic talents like Meryl Streep and Jessica Lange were valued over more eccentric actresses who—when cast within the narrow line of their range—could go incalculably deep.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The two begin their separate lives, backed by a duet sung by the actresses.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Players.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/players. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
