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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in performing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Saddiq Bey had 13 points for New Orleans, which was playing the opener of a two-game California trip. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026 The digital creator has gone viral a number of times in the past for his whiteface sketches, from playing a rowdy redneck to Erika Kirk. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026 Cleveland fell to 5-5 while playing the second night of a back-to-back. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026 The competition included former high-level college athletes, some making a living in professional leagues overseas, but, compared with them, Jontay seemed like a dad playing in the driveway with his kids. — New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026 Both the pedal and the single failed to catch on with the music-playing public upon release in 1967. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026 And Maye did it despite playing without much of the Patriots’ offensive arsenal. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026 Junior safety Naquan Griffin is starting to feel comfortable playing wide receiver for Richards. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026 The second night has Texas playing UCLA in a Final Four rematch, with Notre Dame-South Carolina and Duke-USC the other two games. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing

Verb

Below, shop similar suede coats on Amazon, starting at $36, plus inspiration for recreating the entire look.

— Jessie Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2026
Several social trends have taken hold, including audiences recreating their favorite Cathy Ames looks for Halloween on TikTok and the series audio trending on Instagram Reels.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of recreating

Verb

Sure, public schools that can't afford to provide teachers with basic supplies like crayons and where nurses have to keep track of every bandage and packet of acetaminophen are performing surgery that costs $100,000-plus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
Concerns have also been raised about the presence of immigration agents around voting centers and performing door knocks and street stops to try to identify voter fraud.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of performing

Verb

Meanwhile, Vision decrypts a mocking email exchange between Ultron and Paladin, who’s angry his unbreakable contract was broken.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
As proof of how much of a joke this has become for people is that a sketch mocking their drama was part of the October 10 episode of Saturday Night Live UK.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of mocking

Verb

There are also three on-site dipping pools ranging in temperature, perfect for lounging about and taking in the sights of the nearby Looking Glass Arch.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
And the furnishings lean eclectic—midcentury, vintage, art-forward—with a living-meets-dining-room layout that accommodates group gatherings and lounging.

— Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of lounging

Verb

The overall aim is to reduce the time spent managing cleaning equipment and increase the amount of time a pool is ready for use.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
The approach could offer military units greater flexibility in managing ammunition supplies, particularly when operating drones that require different payload configurations.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of managing

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

Not only was Madeley portraying an actual person, a legend in the disabled community.

— Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
Talarico centered his campaign on portraying Paxton as the face of a corrupt political system that allows billionaires to wield outsized political power while prices rise for the rest of the country.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026