1
as in playing
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 flirting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toying
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
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
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Texas Ranger introduces bodycam video Prosecutors have begun playing video of law enforcement interrogations of Tanner Horner, beginning with Texas Ranger Job Espinoza demanding that Horner tell him where Athena is and asking if the child was alive or dead when Horner left her.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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Getting flexed into prime time, akin to Tuesday’s date in Boston, and playing in meaningful games in late March and early April is a signal Peterson’s vision is working.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mikey never ended up doing anything beyond flirting, but his unfortunate turn of phrase was all Sydney needed to begin exploring her options in the villa.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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This could look like flirting with someone unexpectedly, diving into a passion project or deciding you’re done hiding in plain sight.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To Coimbra, some key questions involved amalgamating real-life characters into fictionalized ones while still honoring victims and survivors, as well as faithfully recreating the look and feel of the time.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2026
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Maybe recreating the moment with him as a joke in practice.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toying. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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