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Definitions

toy 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 play games with trifle with work superficially
Antonyms
WEAK
take seriously
VERB
dandle
Synonyms
STRONG
amuse cosset cradle dance fondle love nuzzle pet play rock sport toss toy
WEAK
ride on knee
Antonyms
STRONG
work
VERB
finger
Synonyms
STRONG
feel fiddle grope handle manipulate palpate paw thumb
WEAK
play with
Antonyms
STRONGEST
maul
WEAK
manhandle

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.

For her Netflix version, Smith Metzler tweaks the plot to toy with our unconscious ideas of upper-class power dynamics.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025

Game-makers have previously defended them as being akin to a chocolate egg containing a plastic toy, with children not knowing exactly what they are getting until the egg is bought and opened.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2024

Think of the toddler's classic hammer-and-bench toy, with square, circular, triangular and star-shaped wooden pegs that can each only fit in the correspondingly shaped hole in the bench.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

For the title track, which Booth wrote fresh from the demise of a five-year relationship, she wanted to toy with the expectations established by such a miserable framing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2024

“What’s the point of this place, other than for you to get off on how great you are and toy with people and their feelings? I know what you did to Ruby.”

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken