1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
2
3
4
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
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
as in to be (to)
to behave toward in a stated way
I would never act toward my boss that way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of act
Peter White, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Gilpin’s elder daughter enjoys watching her mom act, especially during playtime.
—Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
But act quickly—some pieces, like the marble wine chiller, have already sold out.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Noun
Joe Keery and musical act Madison Beer.
—Peter White, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Gilpin’s elder daughter enjoys watching her mom act, especially during playtime.
—Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Mounting staffing pressures are forcing the agency to act, Bedford said Wednesday at a news conference.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
But act quickly—some pieces, like the marble wine chiller, have already sold out.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act
Noun
-
In part, the McKinley administration standardized various press protocols and routines involved in managing the press corps—holding somewhat regular briefings, for example, and carefully timing White House announcements.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Your best bet for starting a routine that sticks?—
Julia Sullivan,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In a recent Instagram post, Kardashian laughed off negative reviews of the show, which also stars Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Glenn Close, has been receiving from fans.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
And the team behind the show, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at Monday’s New York premiere, teased that the audience will not be able to predict what happens.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to military law, while Israeli settlers are subject to Israeli civilian law.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
More than half of states now have some form of school cellphone ban enshrined in law, and about two-thirds of school principals reported in a recent RAND survey that their schools have an all-day cellphone ban in place.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Over the course of the three-day summit, attendees and Goldman leaders talked all things AI—from the most lucrative investments, to the tech’s impact on the environment, and its potential to innovate industries.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The game was soon over and, for all the other tremendous things Woodson did in helping Michigan to a share of the national title, that moment loomed large in his Heisman victory over Tennessee’s Peyton Manning.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Others wore keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian resistance, nodding to an issue that inspired many of Mamdani’s supporters and was in turn weaponized by his critics.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
These microbes are then eaten by small invertebrates such as midge larvae and isopods, which are in turn preyed on by larger insects like spiders, beetles, and centipedes.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
His memoir told of workhouse guards beating prisoners on the least pretense, and of one guard who regularly shoved prisoners down flights of stairs.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said in a May report that women from more than 20 African countries had been recruited under false pretences to make drones for Russia’s war.—
Reuters 16 hr ago,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Individual customers' bills will vary according to their usage rates.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Drew Maloney, the CEO of the Edison Electric Institute, a trade association of for-profit electric utilities, suggested that only some states are the drivers of higher average electric bills.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Belém, Brazil Reuters — Dozens of Indigenous protesters forced their way into the COP30 climate summit venue on Tuesday and clashed with security guards at the entrance to demand climate action and forest protection.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Davidson led for nearly 39 minutes of action, answering each Charlotte comeback attempt run with a flurry of its own, quieting a Halton Arena crowd of 3,712.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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