PLAYS (ON OR UPON) Synonyms: 24 Similar Words

plays (on or upon)

verb

present tense third-person singular of play (on or upon)

as in uses

to take unfair advantage of the candidate played on the voters' prejudices

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays (on or upon)

Verb

The Westin’s outdoor pool is 25 yards, heated year-round, and uses salt water instead of chlorine, so you’ll spot lap swimmers slicing through the steam even in winter.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
Heat triggers shape recovery The technology uses shape-memory polymers (SMPs), materials that can be programmed into a temporary shape and recover their original form when heated.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of uses

Verb

Anyone who repeatedly abuses AI tools may soon find Claude giving them the silent treatment.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of abuses

Verb

Following the assassination of a German diplomat in Paris, Nazi propaganda exploits the incident to unleash a wave of violence against the Jewish population.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
This exploits a loophole in the government's fiscal rules, as money given to these institutions does not count as extra borrowing.

— Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of exploits

Verb

Researchers are still working out exactly how the parasite causes this change, but studies have found changes in proteins in the host’s brain as the parasite manipulates it.

— Tara Deans, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
In Kazan’s remake, Cathy craves power and freedom and manipulates the men in her life to achieve those goals.

— Katie Gunderman, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of manipulates

Verb

Palatucci brought up the example of organoid intelligence, a concept that leverages the computing power and comparative energy efficiency of the human brain, often in combination with the more common computing input of silicon chips.

— Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Ventile, developed for the British military in 1943, is a cotton weave that leverages the fabric’s desire to expand when wet; when densely woven, the damp fibers actually create a natural elemental barrier—no weatherproofing chemicals required.

— Daniel Varghese, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of leverages

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plays hooky

plays (on or upon)

plays out

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“Plays (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of plays (on or upon)

verb

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