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
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Recent Examples of playing up
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
Eighteen months apart, the two sisters played on the same soccer team growing up, Logan playing up one year and Sammy playing up two.
—Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 7 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
En route to his Week 10 assignment in Tampa in 2001, Fox’s lead NFL analyst may have been preaching to the choir—the reporter who took down those words was with the Chicago Tribune—but the big fella seated at the front of the Madden Cruiser wasn’t just playing up the hype man role.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even as wedding registries shift and honeymoon funds replace fine china, antique case pieces and modern iterations of china cabinets are on the rise again—dovetailing with modern maximalism’s emphasis on playing up your home’s personality and the design world’s recent sweet spot for nostalgia.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
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
Eighteen months apart, the two sisters played on the same soccer team growing up, Logan playing up one year and Sammy playing up two.
—Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 7 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
En route to his Week 10 assignment in Tampa in 2001, Fox’s lead NFL analyst may have been preaching to the choir—the reporter who took down those words was with the Chicago Tribune—but the big fella seated at the front of the Madden Cruiser wasn’t just playing up the hype man role.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even as wedding registries shift and honeymoon funds replace fine china, antique case pieces and modern iterations of china cabinets are on the rise again—dovetailing with modern maximalism’s emphasis on playing up your home’s personality and the design world’s recent sweet spot for nostalgia.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up
Verb
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The Colorado State Patrol is launching a new awareness campaign in April, highlighting common causes of crashes due to distracted driving.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Welcome to the high school baseball edition of the Fastball, a Star-Telegram series highlighting Fort Worth-area teams.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yasaka, the casual all day dining emphasizing wood fire and charcoal grilling, and ten person French omakase kappo counter Ren (the one to book).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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Windham agreed, emphasizing that although there may be some truth behind the claim, finding balance in your daily nutrition is always key.—
Eleesha Lockett,
Verywell Health,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Despite the team’s struggles, the underlying metrics and flashes on tape showed a quarterback capable of stressing defenses in multiple ways.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Coach Erik Spoelstra in recent days has insisted that the Heat only can be the best version of themselves with Powell and Herro thriving as starters, stressing a commitment to such an approach, one now again derailed at least for another night.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The state’s largest botanic garden is celebrating the opening of a new woodland geared toward children, featuring artworks by local artists ages 2 to 18.—
Pedro Moura,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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The festival is split between Auditorium Stravinski and Montreux Jazz Lab, with most nights featuring at least two artists on the bill.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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