toys

verb

present tense third-person singular of toy
1
as in plays
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 flirts
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

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 toys 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toys
  1. plays
  2. flirts
  3. sports
Verb
  • Kim plays Seo Yeon-woo, the strategist behind Jeong’s push for revenge, bringing a sharp eye for judgment and motives all his own.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Music, David said, plays a significant role in his recovery process.
    — Bianna Golodryga, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • Hal flirts with Kerry; John has an affair with Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan), the wife of William Macon (Garret Dillahunt), a local cattle mogul whose compound has more high tech weaponry than a mere human would seem to need.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Rachel dates a shoe store operator named Lou (Bob Hoskins), while Charlotte nurses a crush on her handsome young school bus driver and flirts with Catholicism to the chagrin of her Jewish mother.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 17 July 2026
Definition of flirts
Verb
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In the first photo, Lipa, 30, sports a black racerback maxi dress and smiles at the camera with her hands in a prayer position.
    — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of sports

Browse Nearby Words

toylike
toys
toys (with)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toys. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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