Synonyms of act

act 1 of 2

noun

1

as in turn

a performance regularly presented by an individual or group

in his nightclub act he impersonates a veritable galaxy of movie stars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turn
• routine
• number
• bit
• schtick
• shtick
• signature
• shtik

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

• show
• pretense
• guise
• facade
• pose
• pretence
• masquerade
• front
• charade
• disguise
• airs
• façade
• semblance
• performance
• playacting
• cloak
• pretext
• appearance
• portrayal
• put-on
• impersonation
• persona
• image
• excuse
• betrayal
• deception
• treason
• duplicity
• treachery
• camouflage
• fraud
• deceit
• gloss
• affectation
• dissimulation
• perfidy
• guile
• dissembling
• color
• double-dealing
• faithlessness
• falseness
• unfaithfulness
• double cross
• infidelity
• fakery
• falsity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• directness
• candor
• bluntness
• outspokenness
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• naïveté
• naiveté
• candidness
• plainspokenness
• genuineness
• openheartedness
• artlessness
• naivete

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• sincerity
• frankness
• directness
• candor
• bluntness
• outspokenness
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• naïveté
• naiveté
• candidness
• plainspokenness
• genuineness
• openheartedness
• artlessness
• naivete

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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

• law
• bill
• ordinance
• amendment
• legislation
• enactment
• statute
• constitution
• prohibition
• edict
• regulation
• decree
• rule
• ruling
• commandment
• directive
• fiat
• common law
• dictate
• martial law
• ground rule
• command
• restriction
• bylaw
• blue law
• proscription
• canon
• capitulary
• encyclical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• higher law

• higher law

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

• thing
• action
• doing
• deed
• feat
• achievement
• accomplishment
• exploit
• experience
• activity
• performance
• initiative
• work
• undertaking
• attainment
• adventure
• proceeding
• move
• enterprise
• stunt
• procedure
• dealing
• operation
• trick
• tactic
• step
• maneuver
• measure
• handiwork
• emprise
• coaction

act

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play
• perform
• portray
• interpret
• do
• depict
• represent
• impersonate
• enact
• act out
• dramatize
• render
• imitate
• mimic
• take on
• pose (as)
• masquerade
• playact
• pantomime
• role-play
• overact
• ape
• mime
• ham
• underplay
• overplay
• star (in)
• coact
• clown
• costar

2

as in to work

to produce a desired effect

the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• work
• perform
• operate
• react
• take
• take effect
• respond
• result
• behave
• take hold
• affect
• influence
• sway
• pan out
• redound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backfire
• fizzle

• backfire
• fizzle

3

as in to seem

to give the impression of being

always acting helpless, just to get attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seem
• feel
• look
• sound
• appear
• make
• pretend
• come across (as)
• come off (as)
• resemble
• suggest
• imply
• recall
• dissemble
• hint
• insinuate

4

as in to serve

to have a certain purpose

the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

Synonyms & Similar Words

• serve
• function
• work
• perform
• operate
• regulate
• control
• manage
• run
• direct
• handle
• guide
• carry on
• administer
• supervise
• oversee

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

• pretend
• assume
• simulate
• affect
• pass (for)
• feign
• profess
• make believe
• bluff
• put on
• dissemble
• pose
• play
• counterfeit
• fake
• conceal
• sham
• imitate
• forge
• masquerade
• let on
• playact
• disguise
• impersonate
• mask
• dissimulate
• camouflage
• feint
• malinger

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

• play
• mock
• imitate
• pose (as)
• masquerade (as)
• personate
• portray
• impersonate
• parody
• mimic
• perform
• copy
• ape
• mime
• travesty
• monkey

Phrases Containing act

• act (toward)
• act out
• read the riot act (to)
• put on an act
• get one's act together
• act up
• clean up one's act
• riot act
• sex act

• act (toward)
• act out
• read the riot act (to)
• put on an act
• get one's act together
• act up
• clean up one's act
• riot act
• sex act

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