plaything

noun

play·​thing ˈplā-ˌthiŋ How to pronounce plaything (audio)

Examples of plaything in a Sentence

VCRs were once the expensive, high-tech playthings of the rich. We mustn't let the environment become the plaything of oil companies. The emperor used people as his playthings.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And bitcoin, once dismissed by most mainstream investors and institutions as an esoteric plaything that did not seem to have any inherent value, is close to shattering the $100,000 ceiling. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2024 The modular plaything, called Capsela, consisted of translucent plastic spheres kitted out with various components—a motor, a gearbox, a propeller—that could be fashioned into all kinds of gizmos: a boat, a car, a desk fan. Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2024 Unlike most other categories of products, childrens’ playthings have actually gotten cheaper over the last 30 years, Business Insider’s Katie Notopoulos reported. Anna North, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024 This year's top toy list includes a wide variety of playthings, from new interactive toys to classic family favourites. Tess Foley-Cox, theweek, 14 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for plaything 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plaything was circa 1674

Dictionary Entries Near plaything

Cite this Entry

“Plaything.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaything. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

plaything

noun
play·​thing -ˌthiŋ How to pronounce plaything (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on plaything

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