PLAYS Synonyms: 240 Similar and Opposite Words

plays 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of play

as in recreates

to engage in activity for amusement told her son that he needed some time to run and play in the yard after his hard work

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as in performs

to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

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as in mocks

to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior stop playing the innocent, because I know that you were behind that prank

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as in idles

to spend time in aimless activity just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

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as in manipulates

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently this is how we're going to play the situation

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as in puts

to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event figuring that she had little to lose, she played her last few bucks on the state lottery

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plays

2 of 2

noun

plural of play

as in dramas

a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage we'll be putting on a school play using that stage

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as in uses

the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the host's sense of humor was obviously in play during the awards ceremony

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as in ruses

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end the guy at the bar made an unusually creative play to get her phone number

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of plays

Verb

Alegría directed half of the show’s eight episodes; Urrejola plays the key character of Blanca. —

Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 May 2026 The addition of the guest play-callers, Close and women’s water polo coach Adam Wright, led to a variety of trick plays throughout the game. —

Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026 Today, scientists know the thymus plays an essential role in setting up a functioning immune system in childhood, but then starts to rapidly shrink into obsolescence in puberty. —

Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 3 May 2026 Dave and Ike are from Chicago, Scotty MacArthur, who plays Ness, also from Chicago. —

Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026 Deven Kolluri plays Pontius Pilate as a smooth, smoldering fashion plate. —

Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 So should Soufiane El-Faouzi, also 23, who plays deeper and is more combative, but is no less talented. —

Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy. —

Amanda Champagne-Meadows, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026

Noun

But the bullpen was also assisted by Isbel’s two stellar defensive plays. —

Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2026 Of Verde’s 16 goals this season, eight have come on set plays. —

Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026 The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact. —

Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026 The endeavor has continued, producing dozens of audio versions of 10-minute and one-act plays delivered as podcasts. —

Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026 Learning to close games, understanding that a two-goal lead is enough, don’t risk a turnover — that’s one of the hardest things for a young team to learn in today’s NHL game, where young players grow up so focused on skill plays and TikTok highlight goals and everything that’s flashy. —

Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 7 May 2026 Salinger’s duties included accompanying young women to dances, playing deck sports, and acting in plays. —

René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026 Mitch Marner and fellow forward Brett Howden specifically answered the bell with big plays. —

ABC News, 2 May 2026 His ability to make so many different plays was on display today. —

Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays

Verb

These two sections meet, in a sense, in Blue Heron’s moving and surprising climax, which recreates a core scene from Romvari’s childhood — or at least seems to, on the surface.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Take a peek at RetroCast The feature, displaying weather from New York City on Friday, April 3, 2026, closely recreates the look and feel of old-school local forecast segments, opening with a rotating globe-style display before transitioning into a full-screen forecast.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026