as in exploits
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means
played upon the customer's vanity to convince her to buy the expensive makeup kit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays (upon)
Verb
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Lockwood exploits that conundrum, and even takes part in it.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026 -
If anything looks off, a professional inspection is a smart investment — far cheaper than an emergency roof repair after a storm exploits an existing weak spot.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there is a point where the prediction shapes and manipulates the actual outcome.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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Searching for inspiration for her next novel, Elise subtly manipulates the people closest to her like characters in a book.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Plays (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20%28upon%29. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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