Playing against entails competing with someone or something for a win or a prize. There are various other terms that could be used in place of playing against such as challenging, confronting, facing off, competing with, pitting against, battling, or contending with. These synonyms are all useful in different contexts and could be applied based on the type of competition taking place, the intensity of the competition, or the level of skill required to compete. Whether you are playing against an opponent in a sports game, competing for a promotion against a colleague, or simply battling against a problem, these synonyms could come in handy to express the nature of the competition.