Emphasize and Play up

Emphasize

Emphasize verb - To indicate the importance of by centering attention on.
Usage example: supermarket tabloids that emphasize sensational news stories

Play up is a synonym for emphasize in stress topic. In some cases you can use "Play up" instead a verb "Emphasize", when it comes to topics like important, highlight, bring attention to. popular alternative

Play up

Play up verb - To indicate the importance of by centering attention on.
Usage example: that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings

Emphasize is a synonym for play up. You can use "Emphasize" instead a verb "Play up". popular alternative
Cite this Source
Play up and Emphasize. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/emphasize/play_up
Emphasize & Play up. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/emphasize/play_up>.
Play up or Emphasize. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/emphasize/play_up.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "emphasize" and "play up" have occurred on timeline