as in to raise hell
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
But, by high school, Weisberger started acting out at home and getting into trouble at school — and with the law — his father told the Herald in the months after Pascal’s murder.
—
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Signs your child was adversely affected by the trend include having nightmares or acting out, according to Monroe.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 23 Apr. 2025
What did this change for you when acting out Pit Girl in finale?
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
While in shelters, some animals may act out due to the overwhelming stress of their environment.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Signs your child was adversely affected by the trend include having nightmares or acting out, according to Monroe.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 23 Apr. 2025
What did this change for you when acting out Pit Girl in finale?
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
While in shelters, some animals may act out due to the overwhelming stress of their environment.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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Resto was arrested on charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, engaging police in a pursuit, failure to maintain proper lane on a limited access highway and interfering with an officer/resisting.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2025
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The YouGov/The Economist survey also shows that nearly half of Americans think that the Trump administration is disobeying court orders when deporting immigrants.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Barack Obama was the first president to communicate with the public through social media, a practice carried on by his successors, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.—
Smithsonian magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 May 2025
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But, unlike most drivers who would just carry on with their journey, this man patiently waits, making sure the children safely enter their home before driving away.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
Verb
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For the first time, Tindall had to act up without his partner over these past two weeks, with Graeme Jones, his fellow assistant, deputising alongside him.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Is his palm injury acting up again, or the pressure to join the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, who won 3 times at The PLAYERS Championship?—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As few as four lawmakers rebelling in the House or Senate could derail the final package, as no Democrats are expected to support the legislation.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Medicaid benefits: Moderates are rebelling against per-capita spending caps, as well as shifting some of the cost burden to the states.—
Hans Nichols,
Axios,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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