as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play up
Balmain’s latest presentation also played up animal prints, particularly zebra — a pattern used by the label’s founder, Pierre Balmain.
—
Hannah Malach, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
The Dolphins’ love for guys that can play up and down the o-line is certainly well-documented.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
An important location for writers and artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 138-year-old destination today plays up its intellectual and artistic history with literary gatherings, poetry workshops and live music.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The Liberal Party ad played up many trite but true Canadian stereotypes and jokes that are not going to cut it during this sobering election campaign.
—Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Hannah Malach, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
The Dolphins’ love for guys that can play up and down the o-line is certainly well-documented.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
An important location for writers and artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 138-year-old destination today plays up its intellectual and artistic history with literary gatherings, poetry workshops and live music.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The Liberal Party ad played up many trite but true Canadian stereotypes and jokes that are not going to cut it during this sobering election campaign.
—Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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The White House released a fact sheet on Friday that highlighted a 2005 New York Times article lamenting the U.S. trade deficit and a 2009 statement from famed Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker blaming the Great Recession on trade imbalances.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2025
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Öztürk, a former Fulbright scholar in a doctoral program at Tufts University, was stunned to find out in early March that she had been targeted by a pro-Israel group that highlighted an op-ed she co-wrote last year criticizing the school’s response to the war in Gaza.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Fremont’s 2024 Homelessness Response Plan emphasized prevention, housing and outreach.—
David Bonaccorsi,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Scrolling Instagram and TikTok was damaging enough to my self-worth prior to pregnancy, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a fitness or lifestyle influencer emphasizing the flatness of their abs mere weeks after delivery to demolish your confidence.—
Michelle Konstantinovsky,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Second report also says consumers are stressed An unrelated index to the Kearney survey is also showing some consumers are taking a defensive mode to their spending.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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Related article Trump envoy stresses need for verification in Iran nuclear talks Comments from Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who represented the US last weekend, have suggested differently as of late.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Vogue unveiled their covers featuring Met Gala co-chairs, rapper A$AP Rocky, actor Colman Domingo, Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton, and a portrait of the ever peculiar Pharrell Williams.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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Her personalized pair featured tons of colorful gemstones inspired by Ballerini's past musical eras as well as song titles from Patterns and Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) .—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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