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.
—
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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Mike Tirico, Jamal Crawford, and Reggie Miller discusses why San Antonio could be a contender for years to come, highlighting Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs' chemistry and its long-term outlook.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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For Bottoms and Kirkmeyer, who hail from different ideological factions of the GOP, the debate was a chance to close with and criticize Marx while highlighting their own goals and plans.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Verb
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That gives players time to power up their gear to protected ice attacks and build up gear emphasizing Thunder, Fire and Dragon elements that can deal more damage.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
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For Ginsberg, ever-attuned to the rhythmic physicality of verse, the central atom of poetry wasn’t the line or the foot, but rather the breath, emphasizing that his were longer than his free verse hero Whitman because the good, grey poet probably had smaller lungs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
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With drought stressing the Colorado River and other water supplies, the promise of a new supply from the Pacific Ocean seems politically irresistible.—
Sara Sutherland,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
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Johnson pushed back against Pulte's critics -- arguing that the president has the prerogative to choose his Cabinet while stressing that the president told reporters that Pulte would serve on an acting basis -- up to 210 days without Senate confirmation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The cocktails change regularly, and there’s always a weekly special such as the recent Trance Dance featuring apple, cinnamon, gingerbread, and rum.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
The Angels bunched six hits in a six-run second, the rally featuring Jose Siri’s RBI double and RBI singles by Logan O’Hoppe, Grissom and Peraza.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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