1
as in played
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
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2
3
as in seemed
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in pretended
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 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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acted
Some major questions linger over whether DeSalvo acted alone or even committed all of the killings.
—
Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
And there’s Ben’s mother Anne Meara, who wrote plays, acted in everything from TV sitcoms to Shakespeare in the Park productions, and always preferred her son’s more serious work to his broader, big-budget laugh riots.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Noss has been with the MPA since 2006, and previously acted as counsel and director of government affairs for the national copyright collective, representing authors and publishers.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Trailblazers for women in business Mary and Newquist had never met, but both acted as trailblazers at a time when it was considered somewhat unusual for women to be leaders in business, Atkinson said.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
However, the young prankster alleges Cairo acted more violently than originally believed.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
For the role of young Bruce Springsteen, Matthew Anthony Pellicano had never acted before — but his audition tape struck her.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
What is interesting about the vocal but peaceful protest on Boston Common is that the anti-Trump speakers and demonstrators acted as though there was a presidential election coming up in November.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
In Vought’s hands, OMB has acted as a choke point for the funding that Congress approves and agencies rely on to run the government.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2025
Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
And there’s Ben’s mother Anne Meara, who wrote plays, acted in everything from TV sitcoms to Shakespeare in the Park productions, and always preferred her son’s more serious work to his broader, big-budget laugh riots.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Noss has been with the MPA since 2006, and previously acted as counsel and director of government affairs for the national copyright collective, representing authors and publishers.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Trailblazers for women in business Mary and Newquist had never met, but both acted as trailblazers at a time when it was considered somewhat unusual for women to be leaders in business, Atkinson said.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
However, the young prankster alleges Cairo acted more violently than originally believed.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
For the role of young Bruce Springsteen, Matthew Anthony Pellicano had never acted before — but his audition tape struck her.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
What is interesting about the vocal but peaceful protest on Boston Common is that the anti-Trump speakers and demonstrators acted as though there was a presidential election coming up in November.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
In Vought’s hands, OMB has acted as a choke point for the funding that Congress approves and agencies rely on to run the government.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acted
Verb
-
Tewes, who had played cruise director Julie McCoy, since the series debuted in 1977, returned for a handful of episodes in the dramedy's final two seasons in 1986 and 1987.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
-
This came to a head for one of the show's stars, Lauren Tewes, who played cruise director Julie McCoy.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Since Operation Nightingale began, the three agencies have worked on 24,757 square feet of the site and recovered nearly 5,000 of the plane’s artifacts.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
But the real, urgent work ahead of them was to redeem the losses slavery had wrought.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The woman seemed to be seriously considering that advice.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That seemed like Weird and Wild material to me.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alex Thomas has served as the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since November 2022.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The clips allegedly showed Hanson urinating on food, spitting into containers, stomping on food items and rubbing them on his body before they were served to customers, per court documents and reporting by KCTV5, KMBC 9 and The Kansas City Star.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Roberts got up and pretended to have an injury, while also revealing a sweatshirt that was covered in dirt.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
There, the former couple was posing on the red carpet, and Schumer pretended to trip and fall in front of them.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Following the no-contest between Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, Jones mocked the injured champion with a silent but hilarious move on social media that quickly garnered attention.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Italy’s performance at World Cup 1978 and Euro 1980 on home soil was decent enough, but their sluggish form going into the tournament meant he was mercilessly mocked in the Italian press.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Season 34's core panel of judges all agreed that Earle performed exceptionally.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In fact, all of the tasks Neo performed in a test run with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal weren’t done autonomously.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Blue Ivy Carter looked all grown up at the 27th Annual Angel Ball in New York City.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Jackson looked unsettled in the first half.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acted. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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