Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

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, shtick (also schtick), turn
Words Related to act

signature
2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
  • was putting on an act when she said she didnʼt mind being left out of the outing
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, sincerity, 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

blue law

prohibition, proscription, restriction

canon, capitulary, encyclical
Near Antonyms of act

higher law
4 something done by someone
  • itʼs acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I canʼt 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
  • someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention
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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up act? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

orthography

Listen to the pronounciation of orthography

the way words of a language are spelled

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  2. crawdad New novel makes waves

  3. non sequitur, sequitur Manafort judge addresses defense

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games