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act

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of act

1 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group
  • In his nightclub act he impersonates a veritable galaxy of movie stars.
Synonyms of act

bit, number, routine, turn
Words Related to act

signature
2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
  • She was putting on an act when she said she was sorry.
Synonyms of act

airs, charade, disguise, facade (also façade), front, guise, masquerade, playacting, pose, pretense (or pretence), put-on, semblance, show
Words Related to act

impersonation, performance, portrayal

image, persona

appearance, color, gloss

camouflage, cloak

affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile

betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness

excuse, pretext
Near Antonyms of act

bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, straightforwardness

artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete)
3 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 of act

bill, constitution, enactment, law, ordinance, statute
Words Related to act

command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling

bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule

amendment, legislation

common law, martial law

prohibition, proscription, restriction
Near Antonyms of act

higher law
4 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 of act

action, deed, doing, exploit, feat, thing
Words Related to act

accomplishment, achievement, attainment

adventure, experience

emprise, enterprise, initiative, undertaking

handiwork, performance, work

stunt, trick

activity, dealing

maneuver, measure, move, operation, procedure, proceeding, step, tactic

coaction

act

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of act

1 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 of act

do, impersonate, interpret, perform, play, portray
Words Related to act

depict, dramatize, render, represent

act out, enact, pantomime, playact, role-play, take on

overact, overplay, underplay

ape, clown, ham, imitate, masquerade, mime, mimic, pose (as)

star (in)

coact, costar
2 to produce a desired effect
  • The painkiller acted surprisingly quickly.
Synonyms of act

operate, perform, take, work
Words Related to act

behave, react, respond

affect, influence, sway

pan out, redound, result
Phrases Synonymous with act

take effect, take hold
Near Antonyms of act

backfire

fizzle
3 to give the impression of being
  • always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms of act

appear, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, seem, sound
Words Related to act

dissemble, pretend

recall, resemble, suggest

hint, imply, insinuate
4 to have a certain purpose
  • The tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects.
Synonyms of act

function, perform, serve, work
Words Related to act

operate, run

administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise
5 to present a false appearance of
  • If you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it.
Synonyms of act

affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pass (for), pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulate
Words Related to act

dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose

forge, imitate

camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask

feint

malinger
Phrases Synonymous with act

make believe
6 to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
  • always giving advice and acting the expert
Synonyms of act

impersonate, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as)
Words Related to act

ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, monkey, parody, travesty

perform, portray

Learn More about act

  1. See words that rhyme with act Dictionary: Definition of act Medical Dictionary: Definition of act Spanish Central: Translation of act Nglish: Translation of act for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of act for Arabic speakers

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