Definitions

playact

[pley-akt] / ˈpleɪˌækt /

VERB

affect

Synonyms

STRONG

act adopt assume bluff contrive counterfeit fake feign sham simulate

WEAK

aspire to do a bit lay it on thick make out like put on put up a front take on

Antonyms

STRONG

stop tell the truth

VERB

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appear bear carry conduct give go on manage operate perform play present produce quit

STRONG

comport demean deport discourse enact fare impersonate personate portray seem

WEAK

acquit oneself come on like get along get by make out muddle through put on render the role stagger along

Antonyms

STRONGEST

direct fail halt refrain stop take withhold

WEAK

defer destroy idle lose miss neglect put off

VERB

dramatize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amplify exaggerate overstate

STRONG

act burlesque enact execute overdo perform present produce show splash stage

WEAK

farcialize give color to ham it up lay it on make a production of melodramatize play on heartstrings play to gallery play up tragedize

Antonyms

STRONGEST

reduce

STRONG

abandon fail halt ignore neglect prevent refrain refuse stop veto

VERB

enact

Synonyms

STRONGEST

achieve execute

STRONG

depict discourse do perform personate play portray represent

WEAK

appear as go on play the part of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail miss

STRONG

direct

WEAK

hinder prevent refuse repeal stop veto

VERB

impersonate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

act like imitate masquerade as mimic portray pose as

STRONG

act ape ditto do enact fake mirror perform personate play represent

WEAK

act a part act out assume character do an impression of double as dress as make like pass oneself off as play a role put on an act take the part of

Antonyms

STRONG

direct fail halt idle prevent stop

WEAK

be original differ oppose reverse

VERB

make believe

Synonyms

WEAK

act as if act as though bluff counterfeit dream enact fake fantasize feign fool imagine let on like make as if play play the part play-act pretend simulate

Antonyms

WEAK

live reality

VERB

perform

Synonyms

STRONGEST

display execute give go on offer play present produce represent show stage

STRONG

discourse dramatize emote enact exhibit ham impersonate personate render

WEAK

act out appear as be on bring down the house do a number do a turn ham it up put on tread the boards

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abandon conceal deny hide refrain refuse take withhold

STRONG

fail

WEAK

direct halt prevent stop

VERB

play

Synonyms

STRONGEST

do perform portray present

STRONG

discourse enact execute ham impersonate personate represent

WEAK

act the part of ham it up lay an egg play a gig read a part take the role of tread the boards

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail

WEAK

direct listen watch work

VERB

pose

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affect

STRONG

act attitudinize feign grandstand impersonate masquerade peacock posture profess purport sham

WEAK

make believe make out like pass off put on airs put up a front show off strike an attitude take off as

Antonyms

WEAK

be genuine go move withhold

VERB

posture

Synonyms

STRONG

affect attitudinize display fake masquerade pose

WEAK

do a bit do for effect fake it make a show pass for pass off put on airs put up a front show off

Antonyms

STRONG

withhold

WEAK

be truthful

VERB

pretend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

imitate impersonate purport suppose

STRONG

act imagine masquerade mimic play portray pose represent reproduce

WEAK

assume the role make as if make believe make out like make up put on a front put on airs put on an act

Antonyms

STRONGEST

be original differ oppose reverse

STRONG

stop

WEAK

be honest tell the truth

VERB

put on

Synonyms

STRONGEST

don fake pull

WEAK

act affect assume bluff confound confuse counterfeit deceive feign make believe masquerade pose put on a front put on an act sham simulate strike take on trick

Antonyms

WEAK

be truthful

VERB

simulate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affect mimic replicate reproduce resemble

STRONG

act ape assume bluff borrow cheat concoct copy counterfeit crib deceive disguise dissemble do equivocate exaggerate fabricate fake favor feature feign fence invent lie lift mirror misrepresent pirate play pose prevaricate steal

WEAK

act like do a take-off do like gloss over knock off make believe phony put on put on an act

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest destroy face give idle meet receive reveal tell the truth

WEAK

be real

VERB

tread the boards

Synonyms

WEAK

appear on stage perform strut one's stuff

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.

Norah O’Donnell, the “CBS Evening News” and “60 Minutes” journalist, said she used to playact as Ms. Walters.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2022

Cable TV dresses up space aliens in he-man drag, making the subtext into text, the way Carlson’s tough talk and aggressive posturing playact a child’s idea of manliness.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2021

As a youngster, Brian liked to playact with the toys he made.

From Washington Post • Sep. 29, 2020

Do today’s guests want a 19th-century stage set on which to playact high society?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2016

The two of them playact with each other, pretending to be cordial, but only so it will make the final betrayal even sweeter.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

playact

Example Sentences

Related Words