as in actor
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show)
a brawling actor who is in danger of becoming better known as a thug than as a thesp
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thesp
That fall, the Toronto playwright and performer got cast in a new play and hit it off with fellow thesp Fab Filippo, also a performer who created his own work.
—
Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thesp
Noun
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This adaptation of the Grammy-winning album brings together musicians, actors and dancers from around the globe.—
Jeffrey Miller,
Oc Register,
23 Feb. 2026
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Honky-tonks like the White Horse, Broken Spoke and Donn’s Depot routinely pull in artists and actors chasing a two-step.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The actress known for playing Chelsea on The Young and the Restless on and off since 2011 revealed Thursday that she's been diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 44.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
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Rather than stardom, what the actress was chasing was a certain kind of creative immersion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Robinson struggled setting the edge, lacked toughness (no bench press taken at the Combine or pro day), and his production was lackluster as a college performer.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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Bain & Company’s latest luxury study pegs the Middle East as the sector’s brightest performer globally, outpacing the Americas, Europe, China and Japan.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thesp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thesp. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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