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play-acting

VERB

act

Synonyms

WEAK

be on bring down the house burlesque characterize do do a turn dramatize emote enact feign go on go over ham ham it up impersonate lay an egg make debut mime mimic mug parody perform personate personify play play act play gig play part play role portray pretend put it over rehearse represent say one's piece simulate star stooge strut take part tread the boards

VERB

pretend

Synonyms

WEAK

act assume the role counterfeit dissemble fake feign imagine imitate impersonate make as if make believe make out like make up masquerade mimic play playact portray pose purport put on put on a front put on airs put on an act represent reproduce sham simulate suppose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Investors need to be able to distinguish “the play-acting from the real stuff.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 20, 2026

At her trial, it is widely agreed the injuries seen in the footage of their visit are self-inflicted and she is "play-acting" and pretending to be semi-conscious.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2024

Jesse isn’t ghoulishly envisioning his parents’ death or play-acting the hardships of some Oliver Twist fetish, he’s imagining the moment he can tell his tale of woe to a kindly stranger who’ll take him in.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2021

All the guns and maps talk was easy for intelligence officials to write off as mere fantasy play-acting, instead of a serious plan.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2021

Dave was within twenty feet when the play-acting ceased.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov