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 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
Some cases even involve disgruntled family members acting out of greed.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Many adults can remember acting out scenes as doctor and patient, or using sticks and leaves as imaginary currency.
—Ekaterina Muravevskaia, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Then Bostwick hits the road through November for screenings around the country with live shadow casts of performers acting out the movie in front of the screen.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
An animal physiotherapist and acupuncturist, Megan Taylor, posted on her Instagram @tayloredvetphysio the question of whether owners have noticed their senior dogs dreaming more intensely or acting out compared to younger canines.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
His brittle mum Heather (a heartbreaking and frustrating Shirley Henderson) is barely holding things together as is, and then John starts, well, acting out?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Some cases even involve disgruntled family members acting out of greed.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Many adults can remember acting out scenes as doctor and patient, or using sticks and leaves as imaginary currency.
—Ekaterina Muravevskaia, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Then Bostwick hits the road through November for screenings around the country with live shadow casts of performers acting out the movie in front of the screen.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
An animal physiotherapist and acupuncturist, Megan Taylor, posted on her Instagram @tayloredvetphysio the question of whether owners have noticed their senior dogs dreaming more intensely or acting out compared to younger canines.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
His brittle mum Heather (a heartbreaking and frustrating Shirley Henderson) is barely holding things together as is, and then John starts, well, acting out?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting out
Verb
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Its general sensibility seems more Superstore than The Office, down to the interstitial montages of customers acting up in the perpetually overcrowded waiting room.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
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Sturm said his back started acting up after the team’s first practice.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still, Republicans and Democrats are not letting the optics of fundraising or networking during a shutdown stop them from carrying on like usual.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Lee’s granddaughter, Carolyn Yim — the creator of Ply-Knits — has been carrying on the family legacy by producing some of Samuel Gui Yang’s most iconic knitwear pieces.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer – a petty offense punishable by a fine – Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Beastie Boys had turned the simple art of rebelling against authority figures—teachers, parents, anyone who seemed like a teacher or a parent—into a rallying cry.—
Jonathan Garrett,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
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Loosely inspired by real-life events, the film chronicled the tale of an undercover detective infiltraitng a coal mining community to expose a group of Irish-American miners rebelling against the mine owners.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acting out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting%20out. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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