1
2
as in shows
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in laws
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature
the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in things
something done by someone
it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in plays
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in seems
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in functions
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 pretends
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 mocks
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.
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Recent Examples of acts
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026
One of my first acts was to professionalize our approach to funding.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Following his stint with Santana, Ligertwood continued to tour and record with a variety of acts.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2026
Lil Kim and Mya were advertised as the tour’s opening acts.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 May 2026
The explosion took place as authorities around the United Kingdom grapple with persistent acts of violence, including a spate of antisemitic attacks.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 May 2026
An average American listener, for example, might not be able to name any major French or Vietnamese pop acts, since those artists often target local audiences.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Not just what happens on the field, but what happens in the stands, in the spaces between pitches, in the unnoticed acts that form us over time.
—Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Last summer, the festival featured three days of music by acts such as Wardruna, Converge, Panopticon, and Neurosis guitarist Steve Von Till.
—David Harris, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
The system acts as an agent, building investment screens and producing full research reports, including sophisticated financial modeling and bull and bear cases for a particular stocks, on the fly.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Annual tuition for the Yale School of Art currently stands at just under $50,200—a tough barrier to clear for most aspiring artists looking to attend a program that still acts as a feeder for many New York institutions and galleries.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
The slight moisture basically acts like a magnet, keeping the dust stuck to the cloth with every pass.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The tribute acts this year pay tribute to Stevie Nick and Taylor Swift.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Use Boiling Water Similar to vinegar, boiling water acts as a non-selective herbicide.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
And the hilarious Josh Cahn, as Sarah’s therapist brother, Joel, acts as the audience’s surrogate.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
In 2025, Ninajirachi won the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year prize from the New South Wales state government, which supports its local music scene by awarding select acts with financial prizes.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026
One of my first acts was to professionalize our approach to funding.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Following his stint with Santana, Ligertwood continued to tour and record with a variety of acts.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2026
Lil Kim and Mya were advertised as the tour’s opening acts.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 May 2026
The explosion took place as authorities around the United Kingdom grapple with persistent acts of violence, including a spate of antisemitic attacks.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 May 2026
An average American listener, for example, might not be able to name any major French or Vietnamese pop acts, since those artists often target local audiences.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Not just what happens on the field, but what happens in the stands, in the spaces between pitches, in the unnoticed acts that form us over time.
—Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Last summer, the festival featured three days of music by acts such as Wardruna, Converge, Panopticon, and Neurosis guitarist Steve Von Till.
—David Harris, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Blue Line is an area spanning 120 kilometers (around 75 miles) along southern Lebanon that acts as a de-facto border between the two countries.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
The system acts as an agent, building investment screens and producing full research reports, including sophisticated financial modeling and bull and bear cases for a particular stocks, on the fly.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Annual tuition for the Yale School of Art currently stands at just under $50,200—a tough barrier to clear for most aspiring artists looking to attend a program that still acts as a feeder for many New York institutions and galleries.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
The slight moisture basically acts like a magnet, keeping the dust stuck to the cloth with every pass.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The tribute acts this year pay tribute to Stevie Nick and Taylor Swift.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Use Boiling Water Similar to vinegar, boiling water acts as a non-selective herbicide.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
And the hilarious Josh Cahn, as Sarah’s therapist brother, Joel, acts as the audience’s surrogate.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts
Noun
-
Uranus in your 6th House of Work can disrupt plans or routines without much warning.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The result is closer to a private members club that happens to be a place to stay—a refreshing alternative for the frequent Paris traveler eager to remove themself from the tourist crush and keep up their own work and fitness routines.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Babies who don’t get the vitamin K shot, research shows, are 81 times more likely than those who do to develop late vitamin K deficiency bleeding, where in many cases oxygen can’t reach their brains and blood pools around their skulls.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
-
The designer regularly curates new collections and fresh apparel and is widely known for her signature splits at the end of her runway shows.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Becerra proposes to require cities and counties to approve or deny building permits within 90 days, loosening certain regulations for infill projects and reforming construction defect laws to encourage more construction of entry-level condos.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The proposal would allow NYC a pilot program requiring the installation of technology that detects speed, and slows drivers down, particularly those who have a long rap sheet of breaking speeding laws.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
As the Moon moves through your 2nd House of Finances, clear terms help prevent confusion and keep things fair.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Rodriguez is happy to see things coming together as conference play gets into full swing.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alegría directed half of the show’s eight episodes; Urrejola plays the key character of Blanca.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
The addition of the guest play-callers, Close and women’s water polo coach Adam Wright, led to a variety of trick plays throughout the game.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Name what works, define one agreement, and build from something that feels stable and reliable.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
5 May 2026
-
But the slow realization that Snake Rob was a genuine threat who would ultimately run the game was especially satisfying and a reminder of how well The Traitors works as an all-star showcase and narrative machine, even in its fourth season.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The term totem pole seems to have been coined around the time that one of these posts was displayed at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, likely commissioned from a Haida carver named Dwight Wallace and brought all the way from Alaska.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
As Romans walks into his barn office, which seems not big enough to contain his 6-foot-2-inch frame, his longtime worker, Cristina Bahena, walks in with a big foam cup filled with ice, wordlessly handing it to Romans.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
That system functions best when those requiring protection are dispersed.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
This big-hearted gesture is part of the ethos of The Wiener’s Circle, a Chicago institution that functions as both hot dog stand and local landmark.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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