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

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Recent Examples of playing up 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 The fourth member of the household is Terry’s lurking aide, an androgynous aesthete named Steven (theater producer Jordan Roth, playing up the character’s feline strangeness). — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 These athletes created signature shoes, playing up their personal stories in the marketing. — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up

Verb

Still, state media have been highlighting stories about cafes and other businesses being forced to close for failing to enforce rules on clothing.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Even Nvidia limits its residual value support, highlighting the inherent volatility and risk in this new asset class.

— Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of highlighting

Verb

The findings build on a growing body of research on the neurological connections between the brain and the digestive system, emphasizing the importance of our gut bacteria in maintaining good cognitive health.

— Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
Under Norman, the defensive linemen as a group are doing drills and emphasizing parts of the position that weren’t given as much attention previously, and Funderburg has been a chief beneficiary.

— Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of emphasizing

Verb

Rather than make consumers decide between hold performance and hair integrity, the brand sought to create a formula that supports hair rather than further stressing it.

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Trump responded a day later by stressing Canada’s dependence on the United States.

— Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of stressing

Verb

Yamazaki returns as director for a film Toho and Gkids describe as featuring more extensive effects work than its predecessor, while keeping its post-World War II Japan setting grounded in the experiences of its characters.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Both the private-label line and the wider retail assortment were initially available in 150 Old Navy stores in a grab-and-go concept, with 45 of those stores also featuring dedicated beauty shops-in-shop as part of the pilot.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of featuring

Browse Nearby Words

playing out

playing up

playing (upon)

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“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of playing up

verb

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