Thesaurus

act

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of act

1 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group

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

Synonyms of act

bit, number, routine, shtick (also schtick), turn

Words Related to act

signature

2 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 of act

airs, charade, disguise, facade (also façade), front, guise, masquerade, playacting, pose, pretense (or pretence), put-on, semblance, show

Words Related to act

impersonation, performance, portrayal

image, persona

appearance, color, gloss

camouflage, cloak

affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile

betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness

excuse, pretext

Near Antonyms of act

bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness

artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete)

3 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 of act

bill, constitution, enactment, law, ordinance, statute

Words Related to act

command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling

bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule

amendment, legislation

common law, martial law

blue law

prohibition, proscription, restriction

canon, capitulary, encyclical

Near Antonyms of act

higher law

4 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 of act

action, deed, doing, exploit, feat, thing

Words Related to act

accomplishment, achievement, attainment

adventure, experience

emprise, enterprise, initiative, undertaking

handiwork, performance, work

stunt, trick

activity, dealing

maneuver, measure, move, operation, procedure, proceeding, step, tactic

coaction

act

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of act

1 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 of act

do, impersonate, interpret, perform, play, portray

Words Related to act

depict, dramatize, render, represent

act out, enact, pantomime, playact, role-play, take on

overact, overplay, underplay

ape, clown, ham, imitate, masquerade, mime, mimic, pose (as)

star (in)

coact, costar

2 to produce a desired effect

the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

Synonyms of act

operate, perform, take, work

Words Related to act

behave, react, respond

affect, influence, sway

pan out, redound, result

Phrases Synonymous with act

take effect, take hold

Near Antonyms of act

backfire

fizzle

3 to give the impression of being

always acting helpless, just to get attention

Synonyms of act

appear, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, seem, sound

Words Related to act

dissemble, pretend

recall, resemble, suggest

hint, imply, insinuate

4 to have a certain purpose

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

Synonyms of act

function, perform, serve, work

Words Related to act

operate, run

administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise

5 to present a false appearance of

if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it

Synonyms of act

affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pass (for), pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulate

Words Related to act

dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose

forge, imitate

camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask

feint

malinger

Phrases Synonymous with act

make believe

6 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 of act

impersonate, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as)

Words Related to act

ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, monkey, parody, travesty

perform, portray

act (toward)

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of act (toward)

to behave toward in a stated way

I would never act toward my boss that way

Synonyms of act (toward)

be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, treat, use

Words Related to act (toward)

consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view

engage (with), react (to), respond (to)

Phrases Synonymous with act (toward)

do by

Learn More about act

See words that rhyme with act Dictionary: Definition of act Medical Dictionary: Definition of act Spanish Central: Translation of act Nglish: Translation of act for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of act for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up act? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

Thesaurus

act

Synonyms and Antonyms of act

act

Synonyms and Antonyms of act

act (toward)

Synonyms and Antonyms of act (toward)

Learn More about act

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

auxiliary

'Concave' vs. 'Convex'

Farm Idioms Quiz

Flexible Words for Your Favorite Foods

Trending: Supreme Court: 'Gerrymandering' is Legal

On Contractions of Multiple Words