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
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
And Fosse emphasized Snider’s Fosse-like qualities, playing up Snider’s creative side.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
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
And Fosse emphasized Snider’s Fosse-like qualities, playing up Snider’s creative side.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up
Verb
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In Tuesday night’s State of the Union address — the longest in modern history — Trump defended his immigration crackdown by highlighting crimes by undocumented immigrants.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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This two-culture kitchen approach — fusion cooking, as it is still sometimes called — provides a satisfying meal highlighting the best of each.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on the lawsuits, emphasizing that accurate voter rolls are an integral part of election security.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to recommend that citizens defer all travel to Iran, emphasizing caution in light of the uncertain security climate.—
Hana Al-Khodairi,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bankers are stressing that Press Ganey, which conducts patient satisfaction surveys for healthcare providers, is a safer bet because Medicare requires that data for reimbursements.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Earlier this month, a multi-party parliamentary commission recommended a series of reforms, including the reintegration of PKK members who renounce violence, while stressing that legal steps should be tied to state security institutions verifying that the group has surrendered its weapons.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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New York’s Tomiño serves impeccable seafood platters featuring prawns, scampi, and scallops, an authentic feast for anyone who enjoys the taste of the sea that is so popular in Spain.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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The Moth—whose live storytelling events and beloved podcast have brought over 65,000 true personal stories to audiences worldwide—partners with Comic Relief to present a special Moth Mainstage show featuring a cast of comedians.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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