player

noun

ˈplā-ər How to pronounce player (audio)
Definition of playernext
1
as in instrumentalist
a person who plays a musical instrument a horn player

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in actor
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) a troupe of players used to give performances on the town green

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in participant
one who takes part in something a significant player in the negotiations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 player That international presence extends across Asia, with players from countries including China, Japan and South Korea making their mark on the college game. — Fred He, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 The players in question had been signed to NFL teams before attempting to resume their college careers. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Allen also was one of the most community-minded players on the team, showing up for charity events whenever he was asked. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 DuBose said Fields and another player clashed for roughly a minute after the altercation with Ezukanma. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for player
Recent Examples of Synonyms for player
  1. instrumentalist
  2. actor
  3. participant
  4. musician
  5. performer
  6. participator
  7. artist
  8. actress
Noun
  • Even Rodrigo’s backing band, full of absolutely shredding women instrumentalists, played beside her on equal footing for exquisitely tasteful, post-punky revisions of songs across her three albums.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement could go after the one about what to do if the theater is overrun by period instrumentalists.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of instrumentalist
Noun
  • The Lighthouse actor will also wear a watch from the same brand in The Batman Part II.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Born in Coatzacoalcos, in southern Mexico, the actor found her feet in her early 20s, in soap operas Un Nuevo Amanecer and Teresa, winning fans and a spate of awards.
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of actor
Noun
  • Those were just some of the ways participants at Sunday’s Malört world record attempt described Chicago’s hometown liqueur.
    — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Its core commitments are voluntary and informed participation, minimization of harm to participants, confidentiality and prior approval by an institutional review board that weighs risk against scientific value.
    — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of participant
Noun
  • During dinner, a musician named Manel Ferreira performed fado, the Portuguese folk music, playing guitar and serenading guests.
    — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The exhibition explores the connection between sight and sound through scenes of New York City alongside portraits of jazz musicians.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of musician
Noun
  • An aerial performer hung upside down from the ceiling while pouring Malört shots.
    — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Las Vegas performer Jeff Hutson brings his band for a Valentine’s Day show.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of performer
Noun
  • And in doing so, Gunther often lulls crowds into becoming sporting event spectators rather than the raucous participators that most other wrestlers try to draw out of them.
    — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Definition of participator
Noun
  • Giannetos is the artist behind Amal’s covetable hair, who crafted more boho brunette shades of caramel-brown and deft, light layers for the lawyer and humanitarian this summer.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Bad Bunny and several other artists scored a major win in a copyright lawsuit against them, with a federal judge reversing a previous decision that allowed the case to proceed toward trial.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of artist
Noun
  • Paul Petersen, who played Shelley Fabares’ brother on The Donna Reed Show, paid tribute to the late actress.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rogers and the actress, 80, were married from 1977 until 1993.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of actress

Browse Nearby Words

played (with)
player
players
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Cite this Entry

“Player.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/player. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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