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
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Recent Examples of acts
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
The synching, so early in the story, of Chuck’s decline to the world’s destruction almost completely undermines the ensuing Acts Two and One, leaving them little more to do than a working-out of the plot.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Reckoning' Cruises Past $500M WW - International Box Office
Peter Bart: George Clooney And Tom Cruise Building Strong Third Acts For Their Careers
The two-time Oscar winner’s sentiments come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Cruise’s penchant for death-defying stunts.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 June 2025
Massachusetts Assembly issues Massachusetts Circular Letter, denouncing Townsend Acts.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 13 June 2025
Last night at the New York Public Library, Alexander Sammartino won the Young Lions Fiction award for his debut novel Last Acts.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Four of McMillan’s novels have been made into movies: Waiting to Exhale (Twentieth Century Fox, 1995); How Stella Got Her Groove Back (Twentieth Century Fox, 1998); Disappearing Acts (HBO Pictures, 1999); and A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime, 2014).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Eclectic and sometimes baffling Acts from 26 countries — trimmed from 37 entrants through two elimination semifinals — performed to some 160 million viewers for the continent’s pop crown.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
The Alien Enemies Act is the only surviving statute from a set of four laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 16 May 2025
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The exclusive releases draw in large crowds, help attract new customers who may return throughout the year, and acts as a boost between the holiday shopping season.
—Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2025
And here’s a look at the must-see Latino acts at this year’s festive.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Because of its price sensitivity and short investment horizon, shale acts as a global marginal producer.
—Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Even in the closest relationships, personal space acts as oxygen for individuality.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
This glowing cloud of gas and dust acts as a stellar nursery, where new stars are born.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025
That trust acts like a discount.
—Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
That last one, which stalks and growls realistically thanks to a trio of stunningly talented puppeteers, acts as both antagonist and doppelgänger to Pi.
—John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
To address this chaos, and to help fund the war against the Confederacy, Lincoln’s government eventually passed the National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864, which imposed stricter capital and reserve requirements on banks and helped to create a single national currency.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
The synching, so early in the story, of Chuck’s decline to the world’s destruction almost completely undermines the ensuing Acts Two and One, leaving them little more to do than a working-out of the plot.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Reckoning' Cruises Past $500M WW - International Box Office
Peter Bart: George Clooney And Tom Cruise Building Strong Third Acts For Their Careers
The two-time Oscar winner’s sentiments come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Cruise’s penchant for death-defying stunts.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 June 2025
Massachusetts Assembly issues Massachusetts Circular Letter, denouncing Townsend Acts.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 13 June 2025
Last night at the New York Public Library, Alexander Sammartino won the Young Lions Fiction award for his debut novel Last Acts.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Four of McMillan’s novels have been made into movies: Waiting to Exhale (Twentieth Century Fox, 1995); How Stella Got Her Groove Back (Twentieth Century Fox, 1998); Disappearing Acts (HBO Pictures, 1999); and A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime, 2014).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Eclectic and sometimes baffling Acts from 26 countries — trimmed from 37 entrants through two elimination semifinals — performed to some 160 million viewers for the continent’s pop crown.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
The Alien Enemies Act is the only surviving statute from a set of four laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 16 May 2025
Verb
Ready for a robot that not only looks human but also acts and reacts like one, expressing emotions like shyness, excitement or friendliness?
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The exclusive releases draw in large crowds, help attract new customers who may return throughout the year, and acts as a boost between the holiday shopping season.
—Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2025
And here’s a look at the must-see Latino acts at this year’s festive.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Because of its price sensitivity and short investment horizon, shale acts as a global marginal producer.
—Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Even in the closest relationships, personal space acts as oxygen for individuality.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
This glowing cloud of gas and dust acts as a stellar nursery, where new stars are born.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025
That trust acts like a discount.
—Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
That last one, which stalks and growls realistically thanks to a trio of stunningly talented puppeteers, acts as both antagonist and doppelgänger to Pi.
—John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts
Noun
-
But subtle little things — developments unlikely to make headlines – can also be big winners.—
Dewayne Bevil,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Dec. 2024
-
But now things are getting even more messy.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Infused with cica, green tea, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E to soothe and protect the skin barrier, the formula works for people of all skin types.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
30 Nov. 2024
-
This handheld vacuum has 69,000 five-star ratings, works on carpet, hardwood, and tile floors, and weighs less than 3 pounds.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
30 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Given Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals, the decision to sell to a potential competition rival seems unlikely.—
Jessy Parker Humphreys,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Despite being a shameless queue jumper who seems to slide through ski lift crowds like water, she's clearly respected and adored by countless people across the valleys.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Pausing as a Leadership Practice Leaders can incorporate pauses into their routines to unlock their full potential.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Sustainability And Comfort Trends Josh Christian, CEO of the Home Technology Association, anticipates significant advances in climate control by the technology learning our preferences and daily routines over time.—
Jamie Gold,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The program helps low-income households pay utility bills.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Fortunately, there are other bills this legislative session that are promising.—
Eshan Dosani,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The news outlet reported that Board Vice President Jon Hartman announced the board would meet again on Monday night to discuss terminating Martin’s contract and placing her on administrative leave among other actions.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Thanks to hundreds of hours of interview footage, visitors can sit down and ask questions of two recipients and learn the details of their lives and combat actions.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The video shows soldiers shooting, apparently randomly, while another performs the customary reading of the Book of Esther.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually, with 97% of establishments passing, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ant operates Alipay, one of the two major apps for mobile payments in China.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
-
In essence, Nvidia treats the entire data center as the new unit of compute, interconnecting chips, servers and racks so tightly that an AI factory operates as a single colossal supercomputer.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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