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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy on Thursday warned that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would only be permitted via routes designated by Tehran, highlighting that risks to the key shipping lane remain.
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The show includes photos, cultural projects, personal stories and more, highlighting the establishment and development of the Hmong community in Minnesota.
Verb
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Book warned that these conditions pose significant dangers for those living on the streets, emphasizing that even when temperatures dip slightly below 110 degrees, the heat remains hazardous for those suffering from dehydration.
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Amazon aims to bridge immediate post-disaster gaps, emphasizing proactive community engagement and coordination, while acknowledging that portable tech supports, but doesn't replace, long-term resilience investments.
Verb
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After number of recent rescues from the Long Island Sound, officials are stressing the importance of water safety as Connecticut seeks to hire additional lifeguards to staff popular swimming spots.
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Its 50-megapixel camera handles everyday snaps well, the battery lasts all day without begging for a charger, and the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage are enough to get started without stressing.
Verb
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The memorial’s wall featuring the 98 names will be completed first, and the canopy feature will be completed and funded at a later date, Diaz said.
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There will be a three-day retrospective of Rajamouli’s work at the French Cinematheque from June 26 to 26, featuring a masterclass with the director on June 27.
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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