1
as in ridicules
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something
taught their children that it was not polite to make sport of others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jokes
a person or thing that is made fun of
had become the long-suffering sport of the village
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plays
to engage in activity for amusement
from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dances
to play and run about happily
the millionaire's grandchildren sporting on the estate's spacious grounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in displays
to present so as to invite notice or attention
sported his flashy new car by driving it all over town
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 sports
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Fairness requires honesty, and the honest truth is that women’s sports exist for a reason.
—Lisa Frizell, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The place once hummed with thousands of workers and their families, with a school, a day care and a sports center.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Saturday, Auriemma issued a public apology about his behavior after his angry outburst following UConn’s 62-48 loss to South Carolina triggered an outcry from the women’s basketball world and sports world in general.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Mandt’s death sent shockwaves through the sports and entertainment industries and led to a wave of tributes from some of America’s most famous athletes.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
American investors are making a big move into Indian cricket, with two separate billion-dollar deals made on the same day for teams in the country’s most popular sports league.
—Chetan Narula, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Post-accident, Varren still sports a forehead scar and continues to ride his e-bike in his Miramar neighborhood with friends.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Sperling often sports Beulah London, a brand beloved by all the Windsor women, as well as Suzannah London, one of Sophie of Edinburgh’s flagship tailors, who was also recently showcased by the Princess of Wales.
—Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
The white dog, who sports a distinctive black patch around one eye, was filmed sitting upright on a seat like a human.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The backdrop is hazmat yellow, and in a touch that’s as subtle as a propaganda poster, one wrist sports a smartwatch displaying the rainbow flag.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Friocenter Pescados spokesman Danillo Souza Alves was quick to point out that tambaqui sports a far higher meat-to-bone ratio on its ribs than pork.
—J.m. Hirsch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The wall behind the iconic Muffler Man also took a hit and now sports a hole, though the shop remains open.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026
The third floor is home to three guest bedrooms, a floating lounge area, and a wraparound terrace, while the fourth floor sports a gym and the entrance to the slide.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
Conversations about how much the suburb of Apex has grown, of how beautiful the pine trees look pressed up against a cloudless sky, of how some sports have changed, maybe, and represented a vanishing way of a simpler life.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Fairness requires honesty, and the honest truth is that women’s sports exist for a reason.
—Lisa Frizell, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The place once hummed with thousands of workers and their families, with a school, a day care and a sports center.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Saturday, Auriemma issued a public apology about his behavior after his angry outburst following UConn’s 62-48 loss to South Carolina triggered an outcry from the women’s basketball world and sports world in general.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Mandt’s death sent shockwaves through the sports and entertainment industries and led to a wave of tributes from some of America’s most famous athletes.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
American investors are making a big move into Indian cricket, with two separate billion-dollar deals made on the same day for teams in the country’s most popular sports league.
—Chetan Narula, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
In the video, little London wears a chic pink snowsuit with bow designs, while Phoenix wears an all-red snowsuit and Hilton sports an aqua blue jacket with black snow pants and a black hat.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Post-accident, Varren still sports a forehead scar and continues to ride his e-bike in his Miramar neighborhood with friends.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Sperling often sports Beulah London, a brand beloved by all the Windsor women, as well as Suzannah London, one of Sophie of Edinburgh’s flagship tailors, who was also recently showcased by the Princess of Wales.
—Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
The white dog, who sports a distinctive black patch around one eye, was filmed sitting upright on a seat like a human.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The backdrop is hazmat yellow, and in a touch that’s as subtle as a propaganda poster, one wrist sports a smartwatch displaying the rainbow flag.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Friocenter Pescados spokesman Danillo Souza Alves was quick to point out that tambaqui sports a far higher meat-to-bone ratio on its ribs than pork.
—J.m. Hirsch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The wall behind the iconic Muffler Man also took a hit and now sports a hole, though the shop remains open.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026
The third floor is home to three guest bedrooms, a floating lounge area, and a wraparound terrace, while the fourth floor sports a gym and the entrance to the slide.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sports
Noun
-
Did this make Fuentes, Morgan asked, want to reconsider his jokes on the subject?—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Some people embed terms in memes, jokes or ironic commentary.—
Sharlette A. Kellum,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the dance, Barnes plays a library page on her lunch hour who has to deliver five research requests to patrons.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Making plays often for his teammates, Banchero added six assists, but turned the ball over five times.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Guided by the imperious voiceover of family matriarch Ann (Francis Annis), Soames chases after the lovely Irene (Millie Gibson), who scandalously dances ballet and wants to go to Paris.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Then Nelson dances a guy in the neutral zone and gets tripped … like, that’s what the penalties are for.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The museum displays some 4,000 pieces of erotic art owner Naomi Wilzig has collected over the years.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The left hand pointing down, palm out, displays the varadamudra (giving gesture, a kind of mudra).—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Consumers have seen prices jump by a $1 at the pump over the month, while the United States, Israel and Iran enter a new phase in the ongoing war, in which oil and gas have become key targets for both sides.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Other targets, according to a post on X, included command centers, posts of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, air defense systems, ballistic missile sites, navy ships and submarines as well as anti-ship missiles sites, drone manufacturing and other weapon production facilities.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Here, Matcha Milk toys the line between sweet and earthy, blending macadamia milk and vanilla with black tea and matcha accord.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As spring continues to make its attempt at remaining in the Sioux Falls area, Easter hops up with local egg hunts, basket giveaways, Easter candy and goodies and of course, the long-eared, fluffy holiday icon of the hour, the Easter Bunny.—
Vanessa Carlson Bender,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The 24-year-old had hops to put the finishing touches on the Lakers’ successful six-game trip.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Expanding the exhibit As one of the cornerstone exhibits in the Sacramento History Museum, the Woolsey display has housed new upgrades and technologies the museum hoped to check out.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In French Guiana, a different set of P450 genes exhibits a similar evolutionary pattern, cementing the clear connection between these enzymes and adaptation.—
Jacob A Tennessen,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sports.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sports. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
