PLAYING UP Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

playing up

verb

present participle of play up

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 playing up 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 Then again, until teams aren’t being rewarded with Stanley Cups for playing up to and over the line as aggressively as possible, honor is going to be a hard thing to quantify in this sport. —

James Mirtle, New York Times, 27 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 The cuddly canines and spirited mutts making up Team Fluff and Team Ruff will battle for the coveted Lombarky Trophy, while also playing up for the cameras in hopes of finding their forever home. —

Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026 Next-generation geothermal developers are staying the course but playing up the industry’s crossovers with oil and gas. —

IEEE Spectrum, 28 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up

Verb

Given out for free in streetside orange boxes and in stacks at cafés, The L was stylish and well-informed, highlighting locally famous names and haunts, and establishing a sense of shared community for the corridor.

— Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
And people shouldn’t bash him for highlighting a California culinary institution that’s one of the better legacy fast food chains out there, even though the Barstow Taco is, well, whatever.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026