acted

Definition of actednext
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 Lawmakers passed the new map amid a partisan redistricting war that played out across the nation before Florida acted. Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 26 May 2026 But like a paving stone above a cluster of mushrooms, the glaciers acted like a lid, preventing the volcanoes from growing too tall. Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026 An arrest affidavit obtained by news station WSMV revealed that Kyle Chrisley allegedly acted belligerently, jumped out of a vehicle, made suicidal and homicidal threats, and punched several officers who attempted to detain him during the incident. Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 26 May 2026 Park is a former boyband member KNK, and has acted in the likes of Semantic Error, which was for Korea’s Watcha platform and based on the Korean BL web novel of the same name, and TvN’s Our Universe, a coming-of-age romance series. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 May 2026 Nixon never acted on these proposals. Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University professor who studies environmental disasters, said the ruptured chemical tank would have acted similar to a soda can with a hole punched in it. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026 Defense attorney Curtis Rogers pushed back against that claim, arguing in his opening statement that other school staffers, including Zwerner, could have acted. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 May 2026 The defense attorney said Laird had acted suspiciously by deleting messages between him and Maya on multiple platforms. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acted
Verb
  • Kornet played six minutes, missed all three of his shot attempts and finished with only two points, but the block was an epic moment.
    Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Ward has played just nine games in left field for OKC this season.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Jared Bednar’s plan worked, and this core executed it with near-flawless precision in 2022.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • The walk-off home run came after the bullpen of the Twins (27-31) had worked four scoreless innings, taking over after a four-inning start from Taj Bradley.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Why beef culture and agriculture matter in Texas Some of Talarico's critics seemed to be ripping on his manhood, referencing his support for the LGBTQ+ community, along with the purportedly unmanly notion of having, at one time, eschewed meat.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Jocytė provides spark During her pregame press conference, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase seemed to hint that rookie Justė Jocytė might not get into Thursday’s game.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Food and drink Undeniably decadent, with Maldivian lobster plucked straight from the sea and served at every turn—even in the omelette at breakfast.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • While the menu leans into comfort food classics like burgers, hearty breakfasts, and milkshakes, don’t miss the diner’s signature tenderloin, hand-breaded and served on a brioche bun with garlic mayo.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Faced with one of Musk’s seemingly impossible mandates, those strong employees rarely pretended to already know the solution.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 May 2026
  • His wife fell to the floor and pretended to be dead, and Little was pronounced dead at a hospital.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • McGuire did say that Hammond would be ready Week 1 if Texas accepted his offer to play in Lubbock or AT&T Stadium after head coach Steve Sarkisian mocked the Red Raiders’ schedule this season.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026
  • For years, the engineer slots have been mocked by theme-park enthusiasts as boring tasks — to the point that it was quietly mocked in a stage show at the recent Orlando Fringe Festival.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • There are also questions over the future of Vicario, with Kinsky having performed so well in goal over the final weeks of the season.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 27 May 2026
  • Earlier this year performed at the Grammy Awards, where he was nominated for best new artist alongside Addison Rae, Alex Warren, the Marías, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Katseye and Olivia Dean, who ended up taking home the award.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • At Iowa, Clark often operated as both her team's primary scorer and primary facilitator, routinely attempting difficult passes that few players would even consider.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
  • Deployed and operated by Daxbot, the robots are evaluating sidewalks, pedestrian pathways and curb ramps, police said.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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