1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
decided he would indulge in a friendly basketball game with his friends before dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in plans
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
the crook told his accomplice, "Here's the game: look surprised when the police ask about the money"
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in professions
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
stand-up comedy is his game, and he's one of a handful of people making a decent living at it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in areas
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence
the education game simply was no longer of interest to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of games
The Kings had the worst record in the NBA as recently as March 9, but after winning seven of their last 14 games they are now tied with the Utah Jazz for the fifth-worst record in the league.
—
Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
The Wolverines defeated the Mustangs in state semis last year and in 2021 and 2025 and won state title games against Grapevine in 2018 and 2022.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
Joel Hofer stopped 24 shots for the Blues, who pulled to within three points of the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference with seven games left.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Tigers’ ability to shoot and score kept them in games, but defensive lapses and depth issues, particularly in SEC play, limited their ceiling.
—Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The 38-year-old posted herself on Instagram at community events, from political rallies to parades to little league baseball games.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Originally a deadline was set for when spring training games started, but enough progress and momentum had been made that discussions continued.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Austin Reaves scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter while the Lakers finally pulled away from the young Nets to secure their 11th victory in 12 games.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
The Wolverines defeated the Mustangs in state semis last year and in 2021 and 2025 and won state title games against Grapevine in 2018 and 2022.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
Joel Hofer stopped 24 shots for the Blues, who pulled to within three points of the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference with seven games left.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Tigers’ ability to shoot and score kept them in games, but defensive lapses and depth issues, particularly in SEC play, limited their ceiling.
—Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The 38-year-old posted herself on Instagram at community events, from political rallies to parades to little league baseball games.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Originally a deadline was set for when spring training games started, but enough progress and momentum had been made that discussions continued.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Austin Reaves scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter while the Lakers finally pulled away from the young Nets to secure their 11th victory in 12 games.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for games
Noun
-
That appears clear in recent March Madness tournaments, where good teams are winning at historically high rates.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
During tournaments, this mouse is incredibly reliable thanks to its fast response rate, enabling quicker keystrokes and actions.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, the mission will test flight controllers and procedures needed to safely send astronauts back to the moon for long-duration stays as NASA makes plans for a future moon base.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
How does the new Coral Gables board game fit into the chamber’s plans?—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alexander said the skills involved mirror those found in other professions.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
No one saw that a device for making phone calls would conjure entirely new professions—UX designers, mobile platform engineers, social media managers, gig economy drivers—millions of jobs that had no name and no precedent.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Whiteley Estate also harvests rainwater, which is reused in both guest bathrooms and public areas, and runs on an energy monitoring system that analyses the use of electricity, heating, water and gas to optimize how and when it’s used.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The case presents an interesting account of sports business and higher ed decision-making at a time when many colleges are in expensive competitions for coaches who are paid millions of dollars, and where athletes are now paid through revenue sharing and NIL.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
According to the cafe’s social media, Subculture previously held latte art competitions and open mic nights.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The summit will explore how the two worlds connect – from adapting digital IP into cinematic projects and scouting emerging talent, to engaging audiences that drive communities to theaters and exploring innovative marketing strategies.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Join us for our third CNBC Pro LIVE, where investors of all backgrounds — from financial professionals to everyday individuals — come together to cut through the noise and gain actionable strategies for smarter, more disciplined investing.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The only solution for job seekers would be to specialize in vocations that AI cannot easily replicate, such as highly skilled trades, or to work in industries where consumers put a premium on human interaction.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Invest in fiction written by humans and so support human creativity, vocations, and organic economies?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There are 246 of them, drawn from the everyday realms of agriculture, land surveying, and taxation.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
China has long looked to counter the US dollar’s dominance in international commerce; that push is also extending to digital realms.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/games. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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