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
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Recent Examples of games
Her prowess in goal has O'Connor in strong position for a playoff spot in third place in District 28-6A entering Friday's games, with a shot to challenge for the district title.
—
Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 13 Feb. 2026
Attending Globetrotters games in Philadelphia with his father and brothers every year helped Artis fall in love with basketball.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Tagovailoa had the worst season of his career in 2025, showing a clear decline in athleticism as well as throwing 15 interceptions in 14 games, the second-highest mark in the NFL.
—Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Educational activities, live performances by local youth organizations, crafts, storytelling and games will be part of the event, officials said.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
There is a big difference between beginning a throwing program and being ready to pitch in games.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
—Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 13 Feb. 2026
Attending Globetrotters games in Philadelphia with his father and brothers every year helped Artis fall in love with basketball.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Tagovailoa had the worst season of his career in 2025, showing a clear decline in athleticism as well as throwing 15 interceptions in 14 games, the second-highest mark in the NFL.
—Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Educational activities, live performances by local youth organizations, crafts, storytelling and games will be part of the event, officials said.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
There is a big difference between beginning a throwing program and being ready to pitch in games.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
—Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for games
Noun
-
High school culinary classes and a first job at Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen propelled her into a gig at Muirfield Village Golf Club, working tournaments.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That doesn’t include tournaments, and the costs associated with travel.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Silberfeld’s optimism arose from the agency’s apparent backtracking from plans unveiled in a January court hearing to install up to 800 tiny homes on the property.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The concern in February is that others could knock you off your game; someone slick could kick out your confidence, someone disloyal could out your plans before time.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Medical and psychological professions function as a form of neoliberal discipline.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Yet a decade later, a third of the jobs in those professions would be gone.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Since June, federal immigration raids have disrupted neighborhoods and communities across Los Angeles and around the nation, including at work sites, along neighborhood streets and in commercial areas.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Some religious communities bar menstruating women from common living areas, said Ahsan.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The area, with an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet, plays host to all freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions and has three hotels that were transformed into an Olympic village.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The most obvious competitions look to be for the final roster spots in the bullpen and the outfield.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Invest in fiction written by humans and so support human creativity, vocations, and organic economies?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
While their vocations may seem contradictory, their love is born in faith, rooted in romance, and is much more than meets the eye.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The rivalry is also spilling into other realms, including the Super Bowl.—
Matt O’Brien,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
However, after people serve their time in the hells, they can be reborn in other realms.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/games. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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