sport 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sportnext
1
as in recreation
activity engaged in to amuse oneself I don't care terribly whether I actually catch any fish, as I'm just doing this for sport

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2
as in game
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously teasing that began in sport ended with some hateful words being exchanged

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ridicule
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something taught their children that it was not polite to make sport of others

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of had become the long-suffering sport of the village

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sport

2 of 2

verb

ˈspȯrt How to pronounce sport (audio)
1
as in to play
to engage in activity for amusement from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort

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2
as in to dance
to play and run about happily the millionaire's grandchildren sporting on the estate's spacious grounds

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3
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention sported his flashy new car by driving it all over town

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sport differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sport are fun, game, jest, and play. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

When is fun a more appropriate choice than sport?

The synonyms fun and sport are sometimes interchangeable, but fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How are the words game and sport related?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

Where would jest be a reasonable alternative to sport?

The meanings of jest and sport largely overlap; however, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When can play be used instead of sport?

In some situations, the words play and sport are roughly equivalent. However, play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

Example 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 sport
Noun
The mode now functions like the team-building, player-management, pro-hybrid environment that is college sports in 2026 and beyond. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026 But this should be guided and individualized by the right expert in terms of counseling and determining both the risks and benefits of sports based on the cardiac diagnosis and type of sport engaged in by the athlete. — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Verb
Swift often supports Kelce at his Kansas City Chiefs games sporting the team’s colors of red and gold. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 6 July 2026 This season, The Invite actress is ditching sandals for the polished, rich-looking penny loafers she’s been sporting on repeat. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sport
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sport
  1. recreation
  2. game
  3. ridicule
  4. joke
  5. play
  6. dance
  7. display
  8. relaxation
Noun
  • Residents raised concerns about heavy truck traffic, and negative impacts on property values, outdoor recreation spaces, trees and wildlife.
    — Mars King, Twin Cities, 4 July 2026
  • But district officials plan to keep their promise to the state and residents to develop the property for recreation.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026
Definition of recreation
Noun
  • Beyond Hicks’ contributions, Heriberto Hernandez and Owen Caissie hit home runs, while Lopez and Edwards each tallied a hit, while Jakob Marsee ended the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
    — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • Ketel Marte, who tripled at the start Monday, doubled down the right-field line to lead off Tuesday’s game.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • That vision became a target of ridicule — and eventually a joke among the fanbase — when the plan failed to produce a second championship-level core.
    — Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
  • That means that in teams where people felt safe to share ideas and make mistakes, with little fear of ridicule or retribution, there was significantly higher productivity, a lower rate of turnover, more innovation and much more engagement.
    — Leeza Carlone Steindorf, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of ridicule
Noun
  • The problem is, having our President butt in here was a joke.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The two constants in the show, tap-dancing and short ridiculous jokes, start to have the same rhythms and sharp bam-bam-bam impact.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • He was evaluated by the medical staff, hit in the cage and decided to play.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of play
Verb
  • As the music builds, entire sections of the crowd rise to their feet, clapping, chanting and dancing together.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Bryan West July 8, 2023 Kelce danced his way into Arrowhead Stadium attending night two of the Eras Tour.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of dance
Verb
  • The lethality of the Russian assaults on Kyiv in the past week displays the challenge Ukraine faces in protecting its capital as Russia innovates and steps up its attacks.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • While your site displays static portfolio shots, Instagram can show the messy but rich middle—the tricky client requests, the material samples, the iteration process that turns a concept into reality.
    — Danine Alati, Architectural Digest, 6 July 2026
Definition of display
Noun
  • Transforming unused outdoor areas creates functional spaces for relaxation and enjoyment.
    — Barbara Bellesi Zito, The Spruce, 1 July 2026
  • Pillars of Greek culture, like an open-air cinema and taverna-inspired dining, anchor the experience, which also offers a standalone spa plus fitness center complete with a Finnish sauna and outdoor yoga deck for extra relaxation.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026
Definition of relaxation

Phrases Containing sport

Browse Nearby Words

sporadically
sport
sported
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Cite this Entry

“Sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sport. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sport

Nglish: Translation of sport for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sport

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