toying

present participle of toy

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 toying The formula is one of those shampoos formulated for a really great wash—delivering moisture and smoothing without toying too far into volumizing, densifying, or hair growth. Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026 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 The bill is the result of six years of studying and toying around the edges of PBM issues. Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 9 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toying
Verb
  • Rather than playing as two traditional wingers, in this moment, both players were on the left flank.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rumors have circulated that Stan may be playing Harvey Dent, the district attorney who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face and was previously portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones, and Billy Dee Williams.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Still, partners should communicate about when flirting feels appropriate, DeSeta added.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • He's spent large amounts of time courting and flirting with unpredictable adversaries like North Korea and Russia.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The pair were recreating a photo of McLain and her mother when McLain was a baby.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The roommates count down together before sharing one last group hug outside the OG house, recreating the kind of emotional farewell that closed out the original Jersey Shore.
    Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Toying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toying. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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