as in highlighting
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
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Recent Examples of playing up
Collins and Buddy Carter are playing up their conservative records on Capitol Hill, while former college football coach Derek Dooley pitches himself as a political outsider.
—
ABC News, 19 May 2026
The six swings-and-misses on his fastball represented a season high and indicated that the rest of his mix was playing up and keeping opposing hitters off balance.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Peeke, meanwhile, had an up-and-down season, starting well while playing up in the lineup with Hampus Lindholm.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
Rose said Ye bought into her flattery and liked the idea of drinking booze and playing up his bigshot status.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
What’s the harm in asking, or playing up the theatrics?
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
On his Instagram page, Simonds appears to relish in playing up an overly-confident wrestler.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Repossi finessed the rose gold used in its latest spiraling Blast high jewelry pieces, playing up its yellow gleam under a gradient of orange gemstones.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026
Lately, Laine noted, the WWE’s star villain Becky Lynch has been using some familiar-sounding language while playing up her status as a sore loser.
—Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 19 May 2026
The six swings-and-misses on his fastball represented a season high and indicated that the rest of his mix was playing up and keeping opposing hitters off balance.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Peeke, meanwhile, had an up-and-down season, starting well while playing up in the lineup with Hampus Lindholm.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
Rose said Ye bought into her flattery and liked the idea of drinking booze and playing up his bigshot status.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
What’s the harm in asking, or playing up the theatrics?
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
On his Instagram page, Simonds appears to relish in playing up an overly-confident wrestler.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Repossi finessed the rose gold used in its latest spiraling Blast high jewelry pieces, playing up its yellow gleam under a gradient of orange gemstones.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026
Lately, Laine noted, the WWE’s star villain Becky Lynch has been using some familiar-sounding language while playing up her status as a sore loser.
—Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up
Verb
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At that point, the Barca Foundation’s video cuts to a black screen, highlighting the joint venture with Gran Tierra.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
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The rotating menu draws heavily from seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms, with each dish highlighting the natural overlap between Indian and Mexican cuisines.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
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But even some online sports wagering platforms are open to users starting at 18, including Fliff, which doesn’t require users to pay to participate, emphasizing the entertainment value instead.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
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But even some online sports wagering platforms are open to users starting at 18, including Fliff, which doesn't require users to pay to participate, emphasizing the entertainment value instead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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During the event, Foster also alluded to the messy situation with Jackman’s ex-wife, stressing the importance of women supporting one another.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
1 June 2026
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The trust concluded by stressing that preparation is key.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Atlas benefits further from a simplified hardware design, featuring symmetrical limbs and just two actuator types, making simulation and transfer more accurate and efficient.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
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The lightweight formula combines hyaluronic acid to quench thirsty skin, niacinamide to smooth and brighten, and the brand’s signature herbal blend—featuring ingredients like oat, calendula, and chickweed—to keep skin feeling fresh and comfortably hydrated.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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