1
2
as in show
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 law
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 thing
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 to play
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
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2
3
4
5
as in to pretend
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 to mock
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 act
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
Signs might include pacing, whining, excessive barking, destructive acts, accidents in the house and excessive salivation, drooling or panting.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin emphasized Europe's readiness to act.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Noun
As a kid growing up in Macclesfield, Ellis loved MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, and other indie acts.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
Signs might include pacing, whining, excessive barking, destructive acts, accidents in the house and excessive salivation, drooling or panting.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Verb
His other acting credits include the Fargo series, the limited series The Offer and the Life in Pieces series.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin emphasized Europe's readiness to act.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act
Noun
-
Four other projects by the band — Animals, The Division Bell, The Early Years – 1965–1972, and Transmissions + 1969 — all managed just a single turn ruling the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
This, in turn, provoked police to wade into the crowd, beating people with nightsticks.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Earlier on Friday, organizers suspended shows due to weather around 1 p.m. and evacuated Centeroo shortly after.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
14 June 2025
-
Burns departed the show in 2002 and was replaced by Donovan Patton and later, Joshua Dela Cruz, the show's current host.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
Oyun-Erdene’s supporters say his ouster had three drivers: Firstly, and with a dash of irony, his relentless pursuit of official graft, including a draft law his cabinet just submitted that would compel all public officials to justify their income.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 June 2025
-
Newsom said in a court filing on Thursday that troops had moved beyond those allowable duties to actively assist ICE agents in making arrests, in violation of a federal law known as the Posse Comitatus Act, which is designed to prevent the military from being used as a domestic police force.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Real Madrid is closing in on Argentina’s next big thing As reported by various outlets, Real Madrid is closing in on Mastantuono after sending a delegation to Buenos Aires last week.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Sick to death of being poor, Lucy ended things with John.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Sarah Snook, who played Shiv Roy on that HBO drama, was nominated (and went on to win!), following in the footsteps of her costars Jeremy Strong and Keiran Culkin.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
9 June 2025
-
Selected for Function Hazen came across Szostak’s idea while thinking about the origin of life—an issue that drew him in as a mineralogist, because chemical reactions taking place on minerals have long been suspected to have played a key role in getting life started.—
Philip Ball,
Wired News,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
The President of the United States works under the Constitution.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2025
-
McCarthy worked with former tour mate Depeche Mode’s Alan Wilder on the side project Recoil, and collaborated with techno producer Terence Fixmer.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
The ancestral Menominee community that built the agricultural system uncovered by this new research, however, seems to have been less populous and hierarchical than a place like Cahokia, showing that large-scale agriculture may have been a part of life in very different kinds of societies.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
6 June 2025
-
As a young man in his 20s, Dwayne Debnam seemed to have his life lined up.—
Jonathan M. Pitts,
Baltimore Sun,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The 175-footer serves as the central hub during the team’s global fishing tour, transporting smaller fishing boats, tons of fuel, and toys such as a two-person submersible, KTM electric dirt bikes, and a Bell 505 helicopter.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
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Dunham serves as writer and director, and executive produces alongside Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Michael P. Cohen, Surian Fletcher-Jones and Bruce Eric Kaplan.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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