1
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the feigned applause that polite people give after a bad concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Though shrouded in feigned care for the wrongful death of an unborn child, HB 289 and HB 663 will have horrific effects on women, their families and all medical professionals working in gynecology and obstetrics.
—Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Alvarez feigned to poke Ruiz with his bat after the review.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Adjective
At that exact moment, the album shifts gears, exchanging feigned authenticity for an honest search for meaning.
—Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Though shrouded in feigned care for the wrongful death of an unborn child, HB 289 and HB 663 will have horrific effects on women, their families and all medical professionals working in gynecology and obstetrics.
—Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Sanchez's 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, was stabbed 25 times and feigned death in order to survive.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Alvarez feigned to poke Ruiz with his bat after the review.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feigned
Adjective
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Strangers are matched by experts and move in together after mock wedding ceremonies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
The first mock drafts tend to go up just after the previous year’s real draft ends.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Off Campus uses the messy lives of these athletes to explore romance tropes like fake-dating plots, enemies-to-lovers twists, secret relationships, and more.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
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The Sentinel story published earlier this month featured both Gavi’s and Bastien’s cases as examples of Florida’s inconsistent approach to dealing with nurses who received degrees from roughly two dozen schools that sold fake nursing degrees to more than 7,000 people over the past several years.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Verb
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His wife fell to the floor and pretended to be dead, and Little was pronounced dead at a hospital.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
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Arlester Brown, a Black soldier who fought in a segregated army, crossed an ocean to depend on men of every background for his survival — and came home to an America that pretended that bond didn’t exist.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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García and Calvo have had a strained relationship since both attempted to run for office in the city, although García eventually withdrew from the race.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
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First, the explosion of remote work during the pandemic strained ties between colleagues who once saw each other in the office every day.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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With two outs already recorded in the inning, Rodón surrendered a double to Carson Benge before issuing walks to Bo Bichette and Juan Soto.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
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Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson took a double minor for high-sticking, and Jason Zucker scored on the power play to get the Sabres back within one going into the first intermission.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Because of the church scene, which was strongly suggestive of all the characters going to the afterlife, many viewers assumed that all the passengers on Oceanic 815 had been dead the whole time.—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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In an unusual move, the Lake County sheriff’s department assumed New Chicago police jurisdiction Friday in the one-square mile town located west of Lake Station and north of Hobart.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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In a complaint filed Thursday, Texas AG attorneys said Meta’s claims are false and that the company can and does read the unencrypted contents of WhatsApp messages.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
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The report sparked a blistering response from Parks Director Christopher Cotten, who argued the auditors shared false or inaccurate information and failed to understand how parks and recreation programming works.—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.—
Caroline Reilly,
Forbes.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feigned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feigned. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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