ACT OUT Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

act out

verb

Definition of act out

as in to misconduct

to behave badly because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of act out She was thrown right into the mix, acting out a meet-cute with Montana Jordan’s Georgie Cooper that culminated with a kiss. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Oct. 2026 With the final credits barely up, Musk is acting out exactly that blueprint. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Looting is typically a byproduct of the actual protests, as people exploit the distraction of the protests to act out. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 But this post-apocalyptic drama turns out to be actually a play, being acted out on a technologically complex stage. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for act out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out

Verb

The Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial last year, pointing to misconduct by investigators.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
In addition, referees were instructed to apply the rules regarding fouls and misconducts more strictly – a move meant to protect players and their inventiveness.

— Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026

Definition of misconduct

Verb

What the museum has built, then, is a pliable, predictable, and programmable worker, one that offers all the benefits of Dalí’s celebrity and personality with none of the drawbacks of a worker who might disagree or disobey.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
One even got in trouble and is shackled to a wooden pillory, serving as an example to others who disobey the crown and engage in piracy.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of disobey

Verb

The good vibes carried on with the year’s most competitive bidding war, eventually won by A24.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
When the family moved to Georgia and bought the Tea House, Major’s daughter, Evangeline, decided to carry on the tradition.

— Heather L. Whitley, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of carry on

Verb

But sleep was hard to come by, with her daughter’s asthma acting up and the anxiety of the hearing the following day.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Six weeks later, when that integration acts up again, the institutional memory that used to shorten the investigation may not be there.

— Sanjay Gidwani, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of act up

Verb

Collin, 22 While the show was filming, Collin often rebelled against the production by acting detached rather than performing for the cameras.

— Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Add hot tools, hard water, and a forecast that can’t make up its mind, and my strands find endless new ways to rebel against me.

— Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebel

Browse Nearby Words

actors

act out

actress

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of act out

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cockamamie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes