1
2
as in shows
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in laws
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature
the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in things
something done by someone
it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in plays
to present a portrayal or performance of
a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in seems
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in functions
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in mocks
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of acts
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
Research has consistently found that public acts of bias can affect targeted communities' sense of belonging, psychological safety and trust in institutions.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
An El Dorado jury convicted him in July 2025 of six counts of committing lewd acts on a child younger than 14.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Cacconie was supposed to be sentenced on August 25, 2025, a month after he was convicted of six counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14.
—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Few acts could or would do something like this — a music festival that feels less like a tour stop or a business venture and more like a generous gift to the fans.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
That day’s show featured musical acts including Canadian pop group Bombargo, New York City’s Frost Children and Irish band Bricknasty.
—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
The concert lineup for 2026 features tribute acts of specific musical artists for five of the six shows.
—
Chuck Fieldman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
Other acts on the venue’s summer season lineup — which was officially announced on Monday (June 29) — include Dark Star Orchestra, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Erykah Badu and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
For a person of 22 years of age, though, Gen acts like she’s seen and done it all.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
The studio acts as an intellectual bridge, using advanced rendering, motion graphics and rapid prototyping to visualize how content interacts with scale and materiality, Monday said, adding that design, therefore, no longer happens in isolation.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
Throughout the season, Abby and Kel share subtle moments of connection, though neither acts on them.
—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Dylan Faden wakes up inside the Oldest House — a paranormal, space-defying skyscraper in the center of New York that acts as the headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC).
—
George Yang,
Space.com,
22 June 2026
The crust and top of the mantle make up another area called the lithosphere, which acts like a skin surrounding the Earth's surface.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
This is a world where strong weathering acts as a perfect thermostat.
—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
At the age of 72, Mumy still acts and does plenty of voiceover work.
—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Noun
The Knicks were actually good, breaking a 53-year-drought by winning the NBA championship and inspiring acts of passion and mania across the city.
—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
Research has consistently found that public acts of bias can affect targeted communities' sense of belonging, psychological safety and trust in institutions.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
An El Dorado jury convicted him in July 2025 of six counts of committing lewd acts on a child younger than 14.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Cacconie was supposed to be sentenced on August 25, 2025, a month after he was convicted of six counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14.
—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Few acts could or would do something like this — a music festival that feels less like a tour stop or a business venture and more like a generous gift to the fans.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
That day’s show featured musical acts including Canadian pop group Bombargo, New York City’s Frost Children and Irish band Bricknasty.
—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
The concert lineup for 2026 features tribute acts of specific musical artists for five of the six shows.
—
Chuck Fieldman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
Other acts on the venue’s summer season lineup — which was officially announced on Monday (June 29) — include Dark Star Orchestra, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Erykah Badu and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
Verb
The soaring temperatures are caused by a heat dome — a vast area of stagnant high pressure parked over swaths of Europe, which acts like a lid on a pot, stubbornly trapping heat.
—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
For a person of 22 years of age, though, Gen acts like she’s seen and done it all.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
The studio acts as an intellectual bridge, using advanced rendering, motion graphics and rapid prototyping to visualize how content interacts with scale and materiality, Monday said, adding that design, therefore, no longer happens in isolation.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
Throughout the season, Abby and Kel share subtle moments of connection, though neither acts on them.
—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Dylan Faden wakes up inside the Oldest House — a paranormal, space-defying skyscraper in the center of New York that acts as the headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC).
—
George Yang,
Space.com,
22 June 2026
The crust and top of the mantle make up another area called the lithosphere, which acts like a skin surrounding the Earth's surface.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
This is a world where strong weathering acts as a perfect thermostat.
—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
At the age of 72, Mumy still acts and does plenty of voiceover work.
—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts
Noun
-
Jupiter enters your 6th House of Work and Health, encouraging kinder routines that improve well-being and lighten daily tasks.
-
Hong Kong/Hangzhou/Beijing — When humanoid robots dominated the stage of last year’s Spring Festival Gala with sleek dance routines, Ai Lin saw more than a spectacle.
Noun
-
There are about 340,000 pending cases in California, with highest concentration in Los Angeles county, with 95,000 open cases, TRAC data shows.
-
It's been a 10-year hiatus from television for him and comes amid shifting attitudes toward cable news shows.
Noun
-
Starting in the late 1950s and accelerating in the 1970s, several states enacted laws that required a date label on certain foods.
-
The statement also said Blue Island police are focused on preventing crime, responding to emergencies and enforcing state and local laws, not federal immigration enforcement, as that’s the responsibility of federal agencies.
Noun
-
Highlight reels are dominated by exceptional athletes doing exceptional things.
-
Welcome back to Kick It, the AJC’s newsletter for all things World Cup.
Verb
-
Seeking to reach its third straight World Cup final, France plays Paraguay on July 4 in Philly, and the winner advances to a quarterfinal against Canada or Morocco five days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
-
Emma D'Arcy plays the adult version of the character across all three seasons.
Verb
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Louis-Gabriel Nouchi adds that organizing well in advance allows the team to work on a lighter schedule this week, a far cry from the fashion stereotype that everyone works around the clock in the days leading up to a show.
-
Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
Verb
-
More than anything, at least so far, Stearns seems more comfortable with spread sheets than ballplayers.
-
But, for now, and with this book, Vance seems to be keeping the door open to a rapprochement with Leo—say, a personal encounter at the Vatican that would provide a vivid photo op.
Verb
-
That river cruise also functions as the spine of longer 9- to 15-night journeys that fold in Victoria Falls, the Cape Winelands, Cape Town, Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
-
No system in your body functions its best without proper hydration.
Cite this Entry
“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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