power play
noun
1
: a military, diplomatic, political, or administrative maneuver in which power is brought to bear
2
a
: a concentrated attack in football in which the ballcarrier is preceded by a mass of blockers
b
: a situation in ice hockey in which one team temporarily has more players on the ice than the other team because of a penalty
Examples of power play in a Sentence
They scored their first goal on a power play.
He made a power play to seize control of the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tage Thompson scored on the power play to give Buffalo a 3-2 lead.
—
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Trump risks not just a setback to his redistricting power play ahead of the midterms, but delivering a victory to Newsom, his nemesis and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Askarov made eight saves in the first period, with four of them coming during the Devils’ power plays.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
This isn’t healthful in-person power play, which demands from its participants certain sensitivities, or at least the social acumen to leave one’s home and look another person in the eye.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for power play
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Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Trump risks not just a setback to his redistricting power play ahead of the midterms, but delivering a victory to Newsom, his nemesis and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Askarov made eight saves in the first period, with four of them coming during the Devils’ power plays.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
This isn’t healthful in-person power play, which demands from its participants certain sensitivities, or at least the social acumen to leave one’s home and look another person in the eye.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for power play
Cite this Entry
“Power play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power%20play. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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