mind game
noun
: a psychological tactic used to manipulate or intimidate
—usually used in plural
played mind games with his opponent
Examples of mind game in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why elite sports are also a mind game Mindfulness — the cognitive ability to be fully present and being aware of one's thoughts and feelings — is helpful in combating stress, but honing the skill could be what separates a great athlete from an even better one.
—
Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024
With each country only allowed two spots, having to root against a fellow American duo felt like a sick mind game.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2024
And for the not-budget-minded, there is a massive super deluxe version with untold amounts of additional physical material (but the same music as the regular deluxe set) that comes in a massive cube that’s a whole mind game unto itself just to unpack.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 July 2024
Deterrence is partly a mind game in which adversaries must fear not just a state’s capabilities but also a state’s willingness to use them.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mind game 
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.
Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024
With each country only allowed two spots, having to root against a fellow American duo felt like a sick mind game.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2024
And for the not-budget-minded, there is a massive super deluxe version with untold amounts of additional physical material (but the same music as the regular deluxe set) that comes in a massive cube that’s a whole mind game unto itself just to unpack.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 July 2024
Deterrence is partly a mind game in which adversaries must fear not just a state’s capabilities but also a state’s willingness to use them.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mind game
Dictionary Entries Near mind game
Cite this Entry
“Mind game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mind%20game. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share