1
as in to play
to engage in activity for amusement
the cat toyed with the mouse it had caught, batting it about
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flirt
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
likes to toy with men whom she has no intention of actually dating
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in toylike
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 toy
Micolette Davis, Chron, 19 Nov. 2020
Scene transitions show toy cities, just like those used on the legendary children’s show, only Lloyd’s story is unfolding in Manhattan, rather than Pittsburgh.
—Rachel E. Greenspan, Time, 22 Nov. 2019
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
The CEOs of rival toy giants Mattel and Hasbro both said this spring that their companies were working to diversify global manufacturing so that less than 40% of their toys come from China by the end of the year.
—Jarrod Barry, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 26 July 2025
The bill is the result of six years of studying and toying around the edges of PBM issues.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for toy
Verb
That's why the Chron Shopping team has picked out some of our favorite non-toy gifts for kids to keep children engaged, active, and happy.
—Micolette Davis, Chron, 19 Nov. 2020
Scene transitions show toy cities, just like those used on the legendary children’s show, only Lloyd’s story is unfolding in Manhattan, rather than Pittsburgh.
—Rachel E. Greenspan, Time, 22 Nov. 2019
Adjective
That actually signals to us that this is not strictly a kids series based on a toy.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
The CEOs of rival toy giants Mattel and Hasbro both said this spring that their companies were working to diversify global manufacturing so that less than 40% of their toys come from China by the end of the year.
—Jarrod Barry, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
Chadha has been toying around with the prospect of a follow-up feature or television drama for two years, encouraged by the phenomenal increase in worldwide support for women’s football.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 26 July 2025
The bill is the result of six years of studying and toying around the edges of PBM issues.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for toy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toy
Verb
-
He's played Dante Falconeri on the soap since 2009 and has appeared in over 1,600 episodes as the mob boss.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Betts made a Gold Glove finalist-worthy play for the first out – ranging into the hole to make a backhand play then a jump throw to first.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The National Enquirer reports that Urban has been flirting with women on the Nashville music scene for years.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Most of the songs topped, or flirted with the top, of the R&B charts.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Living Room Wes Anderson, like a handful of other directors working today, prefers to use miniatures and matte paintings and models in his films, instead of CGI effects.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
-
This biopic in miniature comes with a chaser of arsenic.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For instance, dwarf and semi-dwarf trees may live for 15 to 25 years, whereas standard apple trees can easily live for over 50 years.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
With twelve gorgeous varieties, there is a shape, size, and color to fit any garden including semi-dwarf cultivars and upright, nearly columnar varieties for small spaces.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The young Irwin is no doubt his dad’s mini-me, long an unofficial spokesperson for his beloved home.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The Amina Muaddi Barbara pump joins her growing roster of pink statement shoes this year, while Stormi’s Mini Melissa flats add a sweet, literal mini-me angle.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Viruses, as well as small bits of vegetation and invasive zebra mussel larvae, can hide in the plumbing of your rig.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Kahn is optimistic that Coach’s focus on a smaller number of affordable, yet consistent products puts it in a better place to manage cost and price increases than its competitors.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Large clutches, like those at Bottega Veneta and Chanel, and comfortable shoulder bags like the Miu Miu multi-pocket bag, also featured.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Built with water-resistant polyester, this spacious duffel has a dedicated shoe compartment, an end pocket for wet or dirty clothes, a multi-pocket compression panel for organization, and an interior divider curtain that can be removed to hold bulky clothes or outdoor gear.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But when fans arrived at the festival site, they were greeted with little more than dinky tents, grounds that resembled a refugee camp, and cheese sandwiches.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
-
Her dinky dimensions are a small piece of Pearl’s story, though a large part of Semler’s.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toy. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share