as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
the candidate played on the voters' prejudices
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play (on or upon)
Verb
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Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025 -
The team used surrogate dogs -- since adopted through the humane society -- to help give birth to the dire wolves, which are white.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Diamondbacks stole five bases in four innings, exploiting Cabrera’s deliberate delivery to the plate.—
Isaac Azout,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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At Coachella, defaults are rare, but the $4 million fee haul shows promoters profit handsomely, raising ethical questions about exploiting fans’ FOMO.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Donald Trump is abusing the levers of government to launch an attack against New York Attorney General Tish James on what seem to be pretty flimsy claims of fraud.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2025
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The ways in which these attackers have abused Google’s email system clearly needs to be patched.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Attorneys from the Downs Law Group, representing Gremillion and about 100 others in cases against BP, say the company leveraged procedural technicalities to block victims from getting their day in court.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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Advertise services on neighborhood apps like Nextdoor, distribute flyers at local pet stores, and leverage family connections for initial clients.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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It could be manipulated by the therapist or simply placed in the correct position by the individual.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
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These are powers that many politicians – including, currently, U.S. President Donald Trump – would seemingly like to control or at least manipulate.—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Play (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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