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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Hanging a decoy nest in your yard exploits this natural instinct and can discourage wasps from building nearby.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026 -
While Big Tech exploits vulnerable Floridians, Florida’s lawmakers are taking action to prevent the costs of data centers from shifting to regular utility ratepayers, ensuring that innovation does not come at the expense of everyday Floridians.—
Brendan Steinhauser,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 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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Cite this Entry
“Plays (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20%28upon%29. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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