Thesaurus results for PLAYING (WITH)

playing (with)

verb

present participle of play (with)

as in tampering (with)

to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously please don't play with the telephone

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing (with)

manipulating

Verb

Pamela Smart, whose conviction for manipulating her teenage lover into killing her husband became one of America's most notorious murder cases, has asked a New Hampshire judge to let her latest bid for a new trial move forward.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
Football is all about engaño (trickery) — looking one way and passing the other, feinting to go left and swiftly moving right, manipulating the opposition and tricking them to open up those little spaces.

— Xavi, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of manipulating

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.

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playing (upon)

playing (with)

playland

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“Playing (with).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20%28with%29. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of playing (with)

verb

Example Sentences

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