acted

past tense of act
1
2
as in worked
to produce a desired effect the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in served
to have a certain purpose the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
as in mocked
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

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 acted For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels. Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026 And in many Indigenous societies, the color, length, and placement of fringe acted as a coat of arms, signifying one’s family, tribe, or position in the community. Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 1 July 2026 Parisi argued that Blake Rakela acted in self-defense and was protecting his girlfriend and father, who were both present when Styles allegedly threatened them while holding a tire iron. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 The result is a market environment where information advantages can be acted on in real time, often without the surveillance and controls that exist in traditional systems. Kelvin Dickenson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The court also prohibited prosecutors from arguing that Garcia Torres acted with premeditation, rejecting their claim that the fact Sierra’s body still has not been recovered is proof of deliberate planning. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 Moll recorded several singles in the 1960s and acted steadily through 1970 in films made in Italy, France and Germany before dedicating herself to photography. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026 Winfrey acted fast, aware of what would happen if the news of the incident went public. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 These teams then acted in cutthroat ways to buy out or otherwise dump them, however, when their play declined. James Mirtle, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acted
Verb
  • When Doncic played for the Dallas Mavericks and led them to the 2024 NBA Finals, his two centers — Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford — were exceptional in their roles as lob threats, blocking shots and rolling to the rim.
    Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The rivalry is so intense that overnight in Mexico, fans played instruments, sang, and made as much noise as possible outside the Ecuador team hotel to deprive the squad of sleep.
    Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Before volunteering at the church, Ugboaja worked for a decade as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas, according to the diocese.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The family worked with the FBI to craft a response, but there was no email back.
    Anna Schecter, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The legendary German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer seemed well-positioned to catch the ball.
    Tim Rohan, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • The promise seemed straightforward.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Netanyahu, the son of a historian, grew up in Jerusalem’s elite circles and served in the military’s prestigious Sayeret Matkal commando unit.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • No catch-all dishes, served on individual plates.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Even though many Metallica fans pretended to loathe the Load albums, headbangers came out for them.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2026
  • But at least the administration still pretended that justice was the point.
    Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Her party has often mocked the country’s efforts to adapt to climate change, and has fought any effort to reduce its effects.
    Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
  • The 19-year-old was mocked as a late first-round, early second-round selection.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Among the hundreds of surgeries performed over three decades by ElAttrache, his patients include the four 2024 MLB most valuable player and Cy Young Award winners — Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal.
    Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
  • The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery reports that the average number of hair restoration surgeries performed per member in the past year is 178.
    Malana VanTyler, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Onboard spas are also commonly operated by third-party providers.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 28 June 2026
  • Another pilot flying into Newark on a United Express flight operated by GoJet Airlines also reported seeing a drone at roughly 2,000 feet, according to ATC audio from around the same time.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acted. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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