TOYING Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

toying

verb

present participle of toy

as in playing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flirting

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 toying The formula is one of those shampoos formulated for a really great wash—delivering moisture and smoothing without toying too far into volumizing, densifying, or hair growth. — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026 The age-gap romance is one that Statsky said the writers have been toying around with for quite some time. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 The bill is the result of six years of studying and toying around the edges of PBM issues. — Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 9 Apr. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toying

Verb

Each has the perspective of attending East Side schools, playing football and returning to teach and coach at the high school.

— Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
The main reason the Giants have a chance to win every week, though, despite all their injuries and heart-stopping endings, is that Jameis Winston is playing well as their starting quarterback.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of playing

Verb

After flirting with near-record heat in recent days, Kansas City will get a cool, gray taste of fall on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Representations and Acknowledgements • Saeed and Molly, the two other junior associates at Taylor & Byrne, seem to be scoping out Johnny for their own uses; Molly, for her part, has already activated some light flirting.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of flirting

Verb

One critical component of getting the time and place to feel right was recreating the ’70s, rather than leaning on a corny pastiche or tired visual clichés.

— William Earl, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Yamaha was doing it in 1993 with the VL1, mathematically recreating the airflow, reeds, and resonances of saxophones and other acoustic instruments, while Line 6, among others, later applied the same broad idea to guitar amps.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026