feign

verb

ˈfān How to pronounce feign (audio)
Definition of feignnext
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of I would never feign illness just to get out of a test

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb feign contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of feign are affect, assume, counterfeit, pretend, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When can affect be used instead of feign?

The meanings of affect and feign largely overlap; however, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

When is assume a more appropriate choice than feign?

In some situations, the words assume and feign are roughly equivalent. However, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

When could counterfeit be used to replace feign?

The words counterfeit and feign can be used in similar contexts, but counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

When might pretend be a better fit than feign?

The synonyms pretend and feign are sometimes interchangeable, but pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

When is it sensible to use sham instead of feign?

Although the words sham and feign have much in common, sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When would simulate be a good substitute for feign?

While the synonyms simulate and feign are close in meaning, simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

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 feign Her approach to maternity style, now on full display during her third pregnancy, isn’t about soft-focus portraits or feigned vulnerability but strategy and precision. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 Despite feigning nonchalance during the interrogation, his own funny story betrays his true misery. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 May 2025 Even the nature of the work plays a role in how often employees feign illness. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 Refsnyder walked into the restaurant for his own birthday party and tried to feign a smile. —Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for feign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feign
  1. pretend
  2. simulate
  3. assume
Verb
  • Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
    — Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • And by the 1930s, some of the parties, particularly Nazi Germany, merely pretended to abide by treaty limits.
    — Eric S. Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
Definition of pretend
Verb
  • With measurements from the eye, researchers were able to create both anatomical and perceptual models to simulate humpback whale perception.
    — Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025
  • The 100,000-ton warship left Yokosuka naval base earlier this week, while its naval aviators were conducting field carrier landing practice on a Japanese island in the Pacific Ocean, simulating landings on the George Washington's flight deck to obtain landing qualifications.
    — Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Definition of simulate
Verb
  • Many retirement planners assume a 30-year retirement.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown agreed this spring not to assume anything with McCarthy.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of assume

Browse Nearby Words

feet of clay
feign
feigned
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Feign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feign. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on feign

Nglish: Translation of feign for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All