as in exploits
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means
played upon the customer's vanity to convince her to buy the expensive makeup kit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays (upon)
Verb
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Somehow, though, these exploits make for dreary reading.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026 -
Consider how Russia exploits disasters and climate debates.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Reinhart’s Apple is a deliciously deadly mystery wrapped in sequins and pure unadulterated attitude, as Tung’s Pumpkin subtly manipulates the group to get to the bottom of a past incident that weighs on her personally, despite her new friends being oblivious to her true identity.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
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The film is being released as newsrooms shrink, the mainstream media consolidates and social media manipulates the meaning of truth.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
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“Plays (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20%28upon%29. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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