dissemble

verb dis·sem·ble \ di-ˈsem-bəl \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of dissemble

dissembled; dissembling play \-b(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to hide under a false appearance

dissembling the facts

2 : to put on the appearance of : simulate

She lay down and dissembled sleep.

intransitive verb

: to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense

He had dissembled about the risks involved.

—

dissembler

play \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

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Examples of dissemble in a Sentence

he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else
children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age

Recent Examples of dissemble from the Web

Unhealthy dynamics promote dissembling where directness serves us best, unfortunately.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Don’t forbid your sisters from dating your friends," 22 Jan. 2018
Unhealthy dynamics promote dissembling where directness serves us best, unfortunately.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Don’t forbid your sisters from dating your friends," 22 Jan. 2018
Before fixing, explaining, interpreting, dissembling, or devil’s advocating.

— ronnie polaneczky, Philly.com, "What are men for? Here's one idea | Ronnie Polaneczky," 9 Mar. 2018
Unhealthy dynamics promote dissembling where directness serves us best, unfortunately.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Don’t forbid your sisters from dating your friends," 22 Jan. 2018
His silence and his aides’ dissembling were shameful.

— john diaz, San Francisco Chronicle, "Last Word: Trump White House is gang that can’t talk straight," 14 Feb. 2018
Unhealthy dynamics promote dissembling where directness serves us best, unfortunately.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Don’t forbid your sisters from dating your friends," 22 Jan. 2018
Obama email exchanges, but also that Obama dissembled about his knowledge of Clinton’s private email use in a nationally televised interview.

— andrew c. mccarthy, National Review, "Clinton–Obama Emails: The Key to Understanding Why Hillary Wasn’t Indicted," 23 Jan. 2018
Unhealthy dynamics promote dissembling where directness serves us best, unfortunately.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Don’t forbid your sisters from dating your friends," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dissemble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

We don't have anything to hide: "dissemble" is a synonym of "disguise," "cloak," and "mask." "Disguise" implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity. "Cloak" suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention. "Mask" suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something. "Dissemble" (from Latin dissimulare, meaning "to hide or conceal") stresses the intent to deceive, especially about one's own thoughts or feelings, and often implies that the deception is something that would warrant censure if discovered.