GAME Synonyms: 246 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'game' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of game are fun , jest , play , and sport . While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," game is close to sport , and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun. // made game of their poor relations

Q: When could 'fun' be used to replace 'game'?

While in some cases nearly identical to game , fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose. // played cards just for fun

Q: When can 'jest' be used instead of 'game'?

While the synonyms jest and game are close in meaning, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing. // hurt by remarks said only in jest

Q: When is 'play' a more appropriate choice than 'game'?

The synonyms play and game are sometimes interchangeable, but play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief. // pretended to strangle his brother in play

Q: When might 'sport' be a better fit than 'game'?

The meanings of sport and game largely overlap; however, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone. // teasing begun in sport led to anger

game 1 of 2

noun

ˈgām

Definition of game next

as in tournament

a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize decided he would indulge in a friendly basketball game with his friends before dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in strategy

a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective the crook told his accomplice, "Here's the game: look surprised when the police ask about the money"

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in play

an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously there's no need to get upset, all our teasing is only a game

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in profession

the activity by which one regularly makes a living stand-up comedy is his game, and he's one of a handful of people making a decent living at it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in area

a region of activity, knowledge, or influence the education game simply was no longer of interest to her

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game

2 of 2

adjective

as in ready

having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) are you game for going out tonight?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun game differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of game are fun, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When could fun be used to replace game?

While in some cases nearly identical to game, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

When can jest be used instead of game?

While the synonyms jest and game are close in meaning, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When is play a more appropriate choice than game?

The synonyms play and game are sometimes interchangeable, but play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

When might sport be a better fit than game?

The meanings of sport and game largely overlap; however, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of game

Noun

Residents will also have the chance to win tickets to men’s and women’s basketball games via social media, TV and radio promotions. —

Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2025 Three have changed the outcome of a game, securing injury-time wins against Athletic Club and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as a draw against Real Madrid. —

Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Thursday night’s game between the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills began in an ordinary way—pre-game chatter about the Bills’ dominance of the Dolphins in recent years, the coin flip, kickoff, touchback. —

Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2024 The collective pride displayed by Southerners on game day is unmatched, and the pre-game rituals are taken as seriously as the game itself. —

Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for game

Recent Examples of Synonyms for game

Noun

And festivals—not to mention tennis tournaments—require food.

— Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Tennis Australia first experimented with this on one court during last year’s tournament, hoping to attract gamers and a younger audience to the sport.

— Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025