ACTOR Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

actor

noun

ˈak-tər

Definition of actor

as in actress

one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) my sister went to drama school to become an actor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in participant

one who takes part in something Benjamin Franklin was a major actor in many of the events leading up to the founding of our nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 actor The Deadwood and Justified star is set to reprise his role as the real-life actor James Stacy in The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 hit, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 July 2026 A lot of great actors are based around there, and there were others like Lubna Azabal who plays Julia Felix. — ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 Zylberstein is also one of the few French actors signed by CAA. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 July 2026 Her authentic performance as Jia, a deaf girl who shares a unique bond with Kong, earned widespread praise and helped increase representation of deaf actors in major Hollywood productions. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for actor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for actor

Noun

The film was nominated for five Oscars, with Angela Bassett’s nomination for best supporting actress marking the first time any actor in a Marvel film was nominated for an Academy Award.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 26 July 2026
Who the actress is playing has been kept a total mystery, a rarity for the type of movie that often advertises its villains as much as its heroes.

— Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of actress

Noun

His own organization, My Brother’s Keeper, spent around $27,000 this year alone on Uber vouchers to get participants to their events.

— Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2026
At one point during the project, the participant asked Leniain to remove the photograph.

— Michael-Oliver Harding, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

Definition of participant

Noun

As the teams rotate through all the stations, Kaylin is under a lot of pressure as first the only guesser, then the only artist, then the only performer.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 July 2026
But as an international performer navigating US visa restrictions, Broadway was not immediately accessible to her.

— Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026

Definition of performer

Noun

The Charlotte Hornets coach is already impressed with the demeanor and mentality of Naz Reid, the player swapped along with draft pick compensation in the trade sending LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota.

— Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
The most competitive part of the match might have been the fight between the players of the two sides right after the game ended.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of player

Noun

Broadway's glittering lights have always beckoned aspiring thespians and avid theatergoers to New York, and the city's ever exciting theatre scene is far from simply resting on its laurels.

— Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026
Zendaya counted her sixth Emmy nom for the final season of Euphoria with a Best Actress Drama Series nod; the Spider-Man and Dune thespian already has two at home, with Drama Series Actress wins in 2020 and 2022 on HBO’s edgy HBO young-adult series.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 8 July 2026

Definition of thespian

Browse Nearby Words

activity

actor

actorish

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Actor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actor. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of actor

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on actor

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kludge

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes