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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
If previous records massaged her hedonism into silky, professional-grade pop, the sound on WOR$T GIRL is all sinew and scrap metal, a leaner and meaner vehicle for acting out.
—
Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Particularly when your partner has to act out romantic scenes with someone else.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
Mia is really acting out her character and has butt pads so lumpy that Michelle Visage got up off her couch to come over to the Hamptons to yell at her.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
But gaslighters don't necessarily act out of pure malice, Sweet says.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for act out
Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Particularly when your partner has to act out romantic scenes with someone else.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
Mia is really acting out her character and has butt pads so lumpy that Michelle Visage got up off her couch to come over to the Hamptons to yell at her.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
But gaslighters don't necessarily act out of pure malice, Sweet says.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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However, all of the city’s fire stations seemingly disobeyed the mayor by lowering their flags.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Trump had to relent on a scheme to prosecute Fed Chair Jerome Powell for disobeying White House commands to cut interest rates.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Equations define lines that carry on off the chalkboard, but to where?—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
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As spring carries on and summer approaches, our homes are already starting to get hot and stuffy.—
Nolan Lewis,
Architectural Digest,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Baye continued acting up until 2023.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
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There is no defeat quite like sitting down for a gaming session after a 10-hour workday, hoping to get your woes out by winning some battles, but your ancient monitor decides to act up.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Irish nationalists had rebelled against British rule for hundreds of years, but revolution started to become more palatable to the larger public during World War I, according to Sean Farrell, a history professor at Northern Illinois University and 19th century Irish historian.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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More than two centuries after the 13 colonies rebelled against King George III and sent his redcoats packing, a direct descendant of that monarch will arrive Monday in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from British rule.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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