as in running riot
to behave badly
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
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Recent Examples of acting out
The actors joked about how trying to put on medical gloves quickly enough while remembering and acting out dialogue can make scenes go sideways in a heartbeat.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
This world is rarely gentle to people who are hurt, vulnerable, acting out.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Dec. 2025
In October 2015, his mother, Amy, told The New York Times that after his father's death, Davidson began acting out in school and, at one point, ripped all his hair out.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025
When school started, the boy's parents quickly became aware their son was having outbursts and acting out physically.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2025
Gen Z is making risky investments The third way Gen Z is acting out against their inability to buy a home, the researchers argue, is by taking on risky investments, like buying cryptocurrencies.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
But when her school’s principal suggests that her acting out might be covering up a learning disability, Claire’s mom is hesitant to have her evaluated.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
Family described Wilks as an only son who was acting out of his character, which is normally soft-spoken and well-mannered.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
This world is rarely gentle to people who are hurt, vulnerable, acting out.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Dec. 2025
In October 2015, his mother, Amy, told The New York Times that after his father's death, Davidson began acting out in school and, at one point, ripped all his hair out.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025
When school started, the boy's parents quickly became aware their son was having outbursts and acting out physically.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2025
Gen Z is making risky investments The third way Gen Z is acting out against their inability to buy a home, the researchers argue, is by taking on risky investments, like buying cryptocurrencies.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
But when her school’s principal suggests that her acting out might be covering up a learning disability, Claire’s mom is hesitant to have her evaluated.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
Family described Wilks as an only son who was acting out of his character, which is normally soft-spoken and well-mannered.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting out
Verb
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Likewise, when the young men started acting up, Josephine Holt took a keen interest in her newspaper.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
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If your trackpad is acting up, keyboard shortcuts can keep you productive without fighting the cursor.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Over the weekend, business leaders offered a mix of responses after federal agents shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, revealing yet again how one of America’s most powerful cohorts is — publicly, at least — carrying on with business as usual.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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No redemptive speechifying or cathartic waterworks here, just life carrying on with a slightly heavier tread.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The fact that on this occasion senior officers chose a very light touch, preserving still-new representative institutions while not directly disobeying a direct presidential order, is extraordinary – and deserves far more comment and commendation than has been received.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
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The mayor and governor of Minnesota need to be investigated for causing chaos in the streets, disobeying federal laws and causing riots at the expense of a deceased person.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Certainly heroic for repeatedly rebelling against a murderous regime armed to the teeth.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Communities are rebelling against the construction of massive data farms.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acting out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting%20out. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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