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

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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 In the interview, Kubrick talks about directing actors, independent filmmaking, football and even his beloved pets, offering a rare glimpse into the mind of one of cinema’s most influential figures. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026 No scene has more than a half-dozen actors, most have one or two, and Tregenza films their interactions—including long solo walks—in near-constant motion. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 With fellow voice actor and Rugrats star Michael Bell, Chartoff invented the Grayway Rotating Drain, which recycles used water from showers and sinks for other household uses. — Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 Other holdings include minority stakes in Wrexham FC, the Welsh football club owned by actors Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, as well as investments in the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for actor

Noun

When the actress’ hiring was announced, there was an outcry over allegations of colorism due to Stenberg’s mixed-race status and lighter skin tone.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Buffett, an actress, was not accused of carrying out the murders or helping her then-fiancé, Daniel Wozniak, commit them.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of actress

Noun

Approximately four in five participants are in households earning less than $66,000 per year for a family of four.

— Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
The financing facilities will be a boon for startups and mature companies alike — but will also likely fuel concerns from some industry participants that Nvidia is fencing its customers into its own ecosystem.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of participant

Noun

The Philadelphia Phillies endured another frustrating loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night, and the fallout reached a poor performer almost immediately.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Aronow started out as a performer herself, her childhood spent singing popular jingles for Hasbro and Kidz Bop.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of performer

Noun

Angel Genao became the first player in Cleveland history with four hits in his MLB debut and drove in what had been the go-ahead run in the seventh.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Even Dodgers players remarked on the environment for an August regular-season series.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of player

Noun

Comedian, actor, and entertainer Bill Bellamy will be presented with the Icon Award at the 2026 Whats Funny Comedy Festival, recognizing his decades of excellence and impact on stand-up comedy and entertainment.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
Jelly-Schapiro, the author of a new biography of Belafonte, considers the entertainer’s distinctive combination of mainstream appeal and radical politics.

— Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of entertainer

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

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activity

actor

actorish

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“Actor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actor. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of actor

noun

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