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
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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 dwarf
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of toy
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Here, Matcha Milk toys the line between sweet and earthy, blending macadamia milk and vanilla with black tea and matcha accord.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
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
The Star, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
While Cody is preoccupied with playing with toy trucks in the dirt, JJ’s dad teaches him how all the different construction vehicles work.
—Parents, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for toy
Verb
The age-gap romance is one that Statsky said the writers have been toying around with for quite some time.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Here, Matcha Milk toys the line between sweet and earthy, blending macadamia milk and vanilla with black tea and matcha accord.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
Noun
In his free time, SJ also likes playing with toy cars, coloring and making creative art projects.
—The Star, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
While Cody is preoccupied with playing with toy trucks in the dirt, JJ’s dad teaches him how all the different construction vehicles work.
—Parents, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for toy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toy
Verb
-
Sometimes there would be groups of young men along the sidewalks by the entrance to the pool, playing a game with coins thrown against a wall.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
More screen time is given over to her burgeoning friendship with firebrand suffragette Mary, played by singer Lily Allen in a deliberately anachronistic performance — her forthright speech and manner beamed in directly from the 21st century.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
France might be an adamantly secular state, but its pastry shops like to flirt with religion.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
Several politicians have publicly flirted with the idea of running for the office in recent months.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Over billions of years, the galaxy probably collided with smaller dwarf galaxies, which brought in fresh gas and stars and helped build up the outer spiral arms.—
Lisa Kewley,
The Conversation,
14 May 2026
-
Semi-dwarf varieties grow to between 3 and 8 feet tall, while giant sunflowers grow at least 8 feet tall.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
These are tender, delicate miniatures—most of them between one and two minutes long—infused with an ethereal, exotic sense of romanticism.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
-
While in Japan, Luca worked meticulously with the artists to ensure the miniatures were painted lifelike, not flawlessly.—
Sam Mulick,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The National Federation of Independent Business has warned that small businesses and consumers who rely on energy, rather than oil giants, will end up holding the bag.—
Yaël Ossowski,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
But as funding from cap-and-invest and the climate bond dwindle, the state must increasingly turn to Cal Fire, which devotes only a small portion of its budget to mitigation work.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The shapes vary just as widely, from strapless maxis to spaghetti-strap minis and short-sleeve midis.—
Irina Grechko,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
Economic pressure to move from human-in-the-loop assistants to fully autonomous mini-agents is enormous because the unit economics only work if the agent runs end-to-end without supervision.—
Shreyans Mehta,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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
-
And pushing ‘go’ is what this dinky little Honda seems to be about.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Rooms are in muted tones of grey, green, and dusky blue, and even the smallest have plenty of space with king-size beds and a table and chairs—the city views are more interesting, but the ones overlooking the courtyard have dinky Juliette balconies as a consolation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toy. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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