playacting 1 of 2

noun

Definition of playactingnext
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as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive it was clear to her friends that her reaction to the news was pure playacting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

playacting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of playact
as in masquerading

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playacting
  1. pretense
  2. show
  3. posing
  4. facade
  5. pretending
  6. act
  7. acting
  8. guise
Noun
  • Lottie’s wellness cult is no more, although an incriminating video tape gives the adults at least some pretense of narrative tension.
    — Abby Monteil, Them, 13 Mar. 2025
  • During this and other trials, Chase abandoned all pretense of impartiality, openly siding with federal prosecutors.
    — Marianne Holdzkom, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of pretense
Noun
  • But one of the show’s most viral clips is much more representative: The veteran SNL writer Jim Downey pretends to have never heard about Jeffrey Epstein’s misdeeds, to O’Brien’s bleating objections.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The panel went over the evolution of certain elements of the show, including the characters.
    — Abigail Lee, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of show
Verb
  • Wind chills in this region could reach 20 degrees, posing a significant threat to people and property.
    — Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Wind chills in this region could reach 20 degrees, posing a significant threat to people and property.
    — Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of posing
Noun
  • Outline natural stone Johnston adds visual interest to a neutral facade.
    — Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Unfortunately, this page, which mirrored the company’s reset page, was a facade set up by cybercriminals.
    — Maxwell Alles, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of facade
Verb
  • While maintaining a quirky and mysterious air, the show yields questions like, is a cult real if its creators are pretending but its followers aren’t?
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
  • June Squibb plays the titular Thelma, who gets taken in by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) to the tune of $10,000.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of pretending
Noun
  • Best Music Film: A Competitive Race The Best Music Film category has honored a mix of living legends and modern acts in recent years.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • In a remarkable act of creation spurred on by the space race between America and the Soviet Union, science fiction television shows in the 1960s confidently came of age, emerging from campy low-budget offerings of space commandos amid cardboard sets and sparking rockets to more sophisticated fare.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of act
Verb
  • Crash follows martial law declaration and impeachment A large memorial has been set up in a county gym about 5 miles from the crash site, where people including acting President Choi came to pay respects.
    — Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Those officials could be then tapped for acting positions.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of acting
Noun
  • In its stock guise, the Dark Horse is capable of 0 to 60mph in 3.7 seconds and covers the quarter mile in 12 seconds at 118.4mph.
    — Trinity Francis, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • According to certain cosmologies, their souls take on the guise of marine creatures—an idea that struck me as strangely comforting.
    — Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of guise
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Playacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playacting. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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