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 dwarf
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
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
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
José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Flywing avoids positioning the X-Wing Fighter as a casual toy.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toy
Verb
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
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
If fashion is his main medium, music has become a new toy to play with.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Flywing avoids positioning the X-Wing Fighter as a casual toy.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toy
Verb
-
The administration is playing a blame game over the initial characterization of Pretti, Axios reports.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Dak already has shot past the championship game deadline in that no other quarterback has ever begun his career with a team and played 10 seasons without reaching the NFC or AFC title game, then reached a Super Bowl with that team later in his career.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He's spent the last three seasons flirting and dodging anything serious, but season 4 finally gives him his own love story.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Phoenix is headed for a warm, dry stretch that looks more like March than late January as a stubborn weather pattern settles over the West and highs flirt with 80 degrees over the weekend.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For an even more dwarf species with similar cold tolerance, plant Gardenia jasminoides var.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Drake Decker, the owner of Decker Landscape & Design, singles out dwarf Alberta spruce as being especially unpalatable to deer.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But where these scores are alternately jazzy and extraterrestrial, his latest solo album—a follow-up to 2023’s Wendy—is planted firmly here on earth, miniature tableaux of costume dramas and tomato sandwiches rendered in pithy pop couplets.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The Circus Museum features the world’s largest collection of miniatures—more than 42,000 pieces that give guests a peek into the history and early days of The Ringling circus.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dealing with competition from smaller personal computers, IBM’s business model began turning to services and software instead.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Common tactics Supporters of both parties now regularly receive urgent fundraising emails designed to draw in small-dollar donations, a significant part of how political candidates and parties pay for campaign operations and political advertising blitzes.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
South Korean singer and actress Yein, a member of the K-pop group Lovelyz, made her solo comeback in November 2025 with her mini-album, Room.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Strand Larsen has played little part in their mini-revival under Rob Edwards anyway.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 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
-
This is not a dinky smart projector that streams content over Wi-Fi to a spare wall or big screen.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The Wave for 2, which made its debut at this year’s Florida RV Supershow, may be Westfalia America’s most accessible model, but don’t mistake it for a dinky van short on capability.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toy. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
