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Dictionary.com

play games with

VERB
dabble
Synonyms
STRONG
dally dilly-dally idle monkey play trifle
WEAK
amuse oneself with be amateur fiddle with flirt with horse around kid around mess around monkey around muck around not be serious play around toy with trifle with work superficially
Antonyms
WEAK
take seriously
VERB
dally
Synonyms
STRONG
boondoggle drag idle lag linger loiter lollygag procrastinate putter tarry trail
WEAK
fool around fool with fritter away hang about horse around jerk off play around put off trifle with waste time while away
Antonyms
STRONG
complete finish go hurry leave rush
WEAK
hasten push
VERB
hoax
Synonyms
STRONG
bamboozle bluff chicane con deceive delude dupe fleece flimflam fool frame gammon gull hoodwink murphy rook sting swindle
WEAK
fake out pull one's leg run a game on set up take for a ride take in
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest
VERB
trifle
Synonyms
STRONG
coquet dabble dally dawdle dilly-dally doodle fidget flirt fool fritter idle loiter lollygag lounge misuse monkey palter philander play potter putter squander toy twiddle wanton waste
WEAK
amuse oneself be insincere fool around fool with fribble futz around horse around indulge in lead on mess with monkey with play with string along use up waste time wink at
Antonyms
STRONG
hasten hoard hurry push rush save work

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nocella said the targeted victims were lured to play games with former professional athletes, including Billups and Jones, in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025

Mr. Biden replied: “There are at least three. Don’t play games with me, kid.”

From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2023

In 2020, he even joined team Zoom calls to talk to and play games with children in hospitals.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2022

Instead, they stuck to a strict script, touting how many more athletes will get to play games with national championship implications and how many more fans will get to root for playoff contenders.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 4, 2022

We play games with Alphie and the pram.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt