1
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the feigned applause that polite people give after a bad concert
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
the feigned looks of innocence I got when I asked who had broken the lamp
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pretended
to present a false appearance of
I would never feign illness just to get out of a test
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of feigned
Bluesky Social, 22 Aug. 2025
When Devon essentially goes undercover as a Michaela disciple to keep an eye on Simone, Fahy gets to embody a friction between her character’s actual and feigned personalities that’s delightful to watch.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2025
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
When match officials placed a more-than-three-foot-tall trophy in the middle of the ring, Ali grabbed it and feigned running away with it.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Adjective
You are supposed to participate in a pantomime of feigned shock and delayed recognition.
—Bluesky Social, 22 Aug. 2025
When Devon essentially goes undercover as a Michaela disciple to keep an eye on Simone, Fahy gets to embody a friction between her character’s actual and feigned personalities that’s delightful to watch.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2025
Verb
This week on Raw, Lynch and Rollins feigned those communication issues to allow Lynch to execute a cheap attack on Lee.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
When match officials placed a more-than-three-foot-tall trophy in the middle of the ring, Ali grabbed it and feigned running away with it.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feigned
Adjective
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What really makes the dress stand out is its chic details, which includes a structured seam around the waist, gold-tone decorative buttons, and a mock neckline.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The eye-rolling, groaning, mock-despair brings the group together.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Punter Sean West — whose long 24-yard heave on a fake punt outgained every quarterback on the roster.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Green expertly applies fake eyelashes, thick foundation and a dessert brown eye look, while Messina goes to work piling tight curls atop my head.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Donna recently moved to Orlando, to Bennie's chagrin – who has pretended not to remember her name.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Prosecutors said Montejano pretended to be a teenage boy on Snapchat, asked the girls to meet him in a public area at the apartment complex before forcing the girls into his apartment.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The data center explosion has created boom towns across the US, but strained grids and increased housing prices and energy costs.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Judge has been working to rebuild her strained relationship with Sidney for years.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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James Watson, who co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, has died at age 97.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Using what was known about biology at the time and X-ray images, the two determined that DNA had a double-helix structure - like a twisted ladder, with each rung made up of a pair of chemicals.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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More recently, Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist who assumed office in 2019, got along famously with the similarly minded Trump during the last two years of the American president’s first term.—
Ron Kampeas,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
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When preparing to host Thanksgiving, it's assumed that hand towels are going to be a necessity in both the kitchen, powder room, and guest bathrooms.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The title-winning standard has been lower in recent years; City won it with 86, 93, 89 and 91 points between 2020-21 and 2023-24 and Liverpool with 84 points last season, but some of those totals give a false impression.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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The month prior, she was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for using marijuana while owning a firearm and making false statements about drug use, per the newspaper.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The pop of color offers a shimmer-free (rare!) means of warming up a wedding look and works equally well at lip level.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
12 Aug. 2025
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By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feigned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feigned. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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