Synonyms of playing up

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

• highlighting
• emphasizing
• stressing
• featuring
• pointing (up)
• bearing down on
• making much of
• identifying
• punctuating
• illuminating
• focusing
• accentuating
• accenting
• pressing
• foregrounding
• promoting
• advertising
• pinpointing
• publicizing
• spotlighting
• plugging
• boosting
• overplaying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• playing down
• toning (down)
• minimizing
• understating
• de-emphasizing
• discounting
• disparaging
• belittling
• underemphasizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of playing up

Recognizable shapes and clean silhouettes were fashioned in calfskin, napa and suede — with python and lizard prints, mirror leather, crepe satin and mesh playing up contrasting textures. — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, third wife Iya Femi (Bimbo Ademoye) is the most cunning and ruthless in trying to defend her position within the household, playing up to Iya Segi’s schemes as her most willing conspirator. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Thus the 2026-27 season is not about the Rangers playing up to their ceiling. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Vance has been playing up to MAGA lately, going hard on immigration and confronting reporters similar to his boss. — Joe Battenfeld, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

State Farm is playing up its personalized plans with a couple of spots that feature Mahomes, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid makes an appearance in one of the ads. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026

Boobie had also been playing up one — or two even — age levels. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Khusnutdinov, on whom the B’s are high, morphed into Sturm’s Swiss Army knife last season, playing up and down and all over the lineup. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Forty-three football-playing schools are playing up in class this season. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026