1
2
as in shows
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 laws
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 things
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 plays
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in seems
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in functions
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretends
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 mocks
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 acts
NPR, 19 Oct. 2025
The all-too-frequent xenophobic knee-jerk reaction to Latin acts is often triggered by language alone.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Musical acts including Maggie Rogers and Mumford & Sons printed tour merchandise on Comfort Colors shirts.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
While Gacy’s children weren't subjected to horrible acts, their lives were still forever changed by his actions.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Skinwalkers are believed to be those who have committed unspeakable acts, gaining dark powers in return.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The series encompasses stand-up hours, improv shows and solo acts, recorded locally in Los Angeles or New York and airing exclusively on Dropout.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The final 12 acts for the Franklin Morning Pointe Foundation’s seventh annual Seniors Got Talent showcase have been chosen and the stage is set for the closing show.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
If Congress acts quickly, the marketplaces could possibly show the subsidized rates to those who log in to shop as soon as open enrollment begins.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
Glass water repellent acts as a protective barrier that causes rain droplets or water to roll away instead of drying and sticking to your glass (then causing those annoying spots).
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Each distorted arc, ring or multiplied galaxy image acts as a natural cosmic magnifying glass, offering astronomers a powerful tool to look further back into the universe's history.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Glucose acts as the primary fuel, and the researchers followed its chemical path to see how energy production ramps up.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
The rapper stars as himself in the six episode series and acts alongside recurring guest stars Vanessa Bell Calloway and Naté Jones.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
The innate immune system acts as the body’s first line of defense, responding quickly and non-specifically to invaders using cells that release inflammatory signals.
—New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025
When Swift acts in a way that is seemingly out of character, audiences feel cheated.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property.
—NPR, 19 Oct. 2025
The all-too-frequent xenophobic knee-jerk reaction to Latin acts is often triggered by language alone.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Musical acts including Maggie Rogers and Mumford & Sons printed tour merchandise on Comfort Colors shirts.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
While Gacy’s children weren't subjected to horrible acts, their lives were still forever changed by his actions.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Skinwalkers are believed to be those who have committed unspeakable acts, gaining dark powers in return.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The series encompasses stand-up hours, improv shows and solo acts, recorded locally in Los Angeles or New York and airing exclusively on Dropout.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The final 12 acts for the Franklin Morning Pointe Foundation’s seventh annual Seniors Got Talent showcase have been chosen and the stage is set for the closing show.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
As the Tigers turned to unreliable arms out of the bullpen, depending on their Houdini acts to extend the game deep into extra innings, the Mariners never ran out of top-tier options.
—Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
If Congress acts quickly, the marketplaces could possibly show the subsidized rates to those who log in to shop as soon as open enrollment begins.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
Glass water repellent acts as a protective barrier that causes rain droplets or water to roll away instead of drying and sticking to your glass (then causing those annoying spots).
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Each distorted arc, ring or multiplied galaxy image acts as a natural cosmic magnifying glass, offering astronomers a powerful tool to look further back into the universe's history.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Glucose acts as the primary fuel, and the researchers followed its chemical path to see how energy production ramps up.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
The rapper stars as himself in the six episode series and acts alongside recurring guest stars Vanessa Bell Calloway and Naté Jones.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
The innate immune system acts as the body’s first line of defense, responding quickly and non-specifically to invaders using cells that release inflammatory signals.
—New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025
When Swift acts in a way that is seemingly out of character, audiences feel cheated.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts
Noun
-
In addition to her cooking shows and onscreen projects, Gomez is also the founder of Rare Beauty and the Rare Impact Fund.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
That is largely because their shows, including On Your Toes, Too Many Girls, Babes in Arms, and Pal Joey, are rarely revived or performed at regional and community theaters around the world.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When in doubt, check local laws and regulations.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Why the administration wants access to the voter rolls, which laws say are to be controlled and maintained by each state, is not entirely clear.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Wiser people don’t just look away from things that are unpleasant, especially not when the stakes are high.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
-
In addition, a stranger will come to town that will shake things up for Sharon and recontextualize both her past and her present.—
Alamin Yohannes,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In an art-imitating-life debut, Wilder, 18, plays the son of his dad's character Everett.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
As the largest global trade organization of movie theater owners, Cinema United plays a critical role in advocating for the interests of the theatrical experience.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Darwent works with three other teachers.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
That introduced me to works like Hiroshima, Mon Amour, The Battle of Algiers, and Claude Lanzmann’s Shoah, which really show how cinema can radically change how an entire nation sees itself.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Others have expressed their frustration at how Collinsworth seems to be over-the-top with his accolades for Mahomes.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
In other hands, this would cue a standard disease-of-the-week weepie, but Coixet keeps the tone lightly wistful and wise, and trains her attention ever more minutely on Rohrwacher, who along with her character, seems to blossom gradually under this steady gaze.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When Apple launched Apple TV+, the name Apple TV had already been taken by its connected TV box, which functions similar to a Roku or Apple Fire TV device, providing access to other streaming services.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The aircraft’s interoperability with existing vertiport infrastructure, combined with its autonomous capabilities, is expected to create an air mobility ecosystem that functions much like car-sharing services, automated, efficient, and widely accessible.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After encountering an old friend, Colette, embarrassed about her friend’s success compared to her own, pretends to be a customer at the DMV instead of an employee.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
-
In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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