TOYED Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

toyed

verb

past tense of toy

as in played

to engage in activity for amusement the cat toyed with the mouse it had caught, batting it about

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flirted

to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun likes to toy with men whom she has no intention of actually dating

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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 toyed The pair even toyed around with the idea of a potential collaboration. — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Four years later — after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves. — Pat Graham, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026 Four years later — and after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves. — CBS News, 12 May 2026 Nevertheless, he's repeatedly toyed openly about the idea of running again in 2028. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025 According to Wolpe, Billie toyed around with the placement of their bush on the terracotta planter in the shape of a woman in a sports bra and ponytail. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toyed

Verb

With Rose unavailable, sophomore quarterback Gabriel Webster played in district games against Azle, Denton and Sherman.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
Armstrong led the Chiefs in receiving yards in the preseason, so he’s played against NFL competition.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of played

Verb

Drummond flirted with a preseason triple-double and posted eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in 20 minutes.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
Over the past year, Anthropic has repeatedly flirted with the idea that its AI models could be conscious in some way.

— Hayden Field, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of flirted

Verb

But that kept him entertained, as did his gaming console, which came in handy last year in Rome, when my husband and I slipped out to Piazza del Popolo for a glass of wine.

— Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
His administration also has long entertained ways to unwind certain sanctions on Russia in a bid to secure a peace deal with Ukraine — one that would also help ease inflation.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of entertained

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toy

toyed

toyed (with)

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“Toyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toyed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of toyed

verb

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