PLAYING Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

playing

verb

present participle of play

as in recreating

to engage in activity for amusement told her son that he needed some time to run and play in the yard after his hard work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in performing

to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

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as in mocking

to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior stop playing the innocent, because I know that you were behind that prank

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as in lounging

to spend time in aimless activity just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in managing

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently this is how we're going to play the situation

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as in putting

to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event figuring that she had little to lose, she played her last few bucks on the state lottery

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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 playing Fele Martínez has this incredible ability to be funny without playing comedy. — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 And in the battle for control of the Senate, Republicans are now playing defense and spending tens of millions of dollars in some of the most Republican states in the country. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 In a conversation with THR, Sloyan dissects playing Margaret, the character’s dark path, surprise reveal, her demise and her pitch for a Margaret prequel. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026 Their defense is playing well, and their offense looks competent. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Musk is now playing in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Oct. 2026 The menu, overseen by the chef Mike Cain, is largely playing the hits. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 Simmons explained how playing fast and free led to Mizzou scoring 35 consecutive points after Florida tied the game at 10 late in the second quarter. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026 Besides playing the main stage, the real litmus test of MGU’s trajectory was an afternoon set on the Elks Park stage tucked away in downtown Telluride. — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing

Verb

Simulations recreating the earliest era of the solar system show that terrestrial planets, such as Earth, should form within the first few hundred million years.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
So the White House Historical Association set about recreating the Oval Office, opening the exhibit in September 2024.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of recreating

Verb

His new project, Flop, aims to create a spot market for computing power, where participants are rewarded with Flop tokens for providing GPUs and performing AI inference.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
The Crew-12 astronauts were very busy during their nearly 10 months off Earth, performing a variety of maintenance work and dozens of scientific experiments.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of performing

Verb

Vrabel was mocking but wasn't necessarily totally accurate, either.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Five times in the last two months, the president has sneered at and insulted female reporters, mocking their appearance or dismissing their credentials.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of mocking

Verb

Above that, the expansive upper deck offers lounging areas, sunbeds, a bar, and a Jacuzzi.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2026
If lounging by the water gets old, the resort runs a wide range of complimentary activities, from yoga sessions to an aloe scrub–making class.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of lounging

Verb

As these agents take on more responsibility, measuring and optimising their output becomes just as important as managing a human team.

— Derya Matras, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
An investment advisor representative, or IAR, is an individual who works at an RIA, managing portfolios and offering investment advice.

— Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of managing

Verb

With clients walking out and a competitor putting the agency’s standing at risk, the siblings scramble to save both their income and what their mother built.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
The joy of being in DTLA is proximity to transit, putting Santa Monica, Pasadena, and everywhere in between within easy reach without necessarily needing Ubers or a rental car.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of putting

Verb

The formula is one of those shampoos formulated for a really great wash—delivering moisture and smoothing without toying too far into volumizing, densifying, or hair growth.

— Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026
The age-gap romance is one that Statsky said the writers have been toying around with for quite some time.

— Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of toying

Verb

The Republican candidate for California governor is trying to make a scandal out of his Democratic opponent, Xavier Becerra, portraying himself as the son of Mexican immigrants.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Cruise is actually playing an actor, Curtis Markson, who in turn is portraying Digger Rockwell in a satirical play called Fossil Fools.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026