feign

assume, affect, pretend, simulate, feign, counterfeit, sham mean to put on a false or deceptive appearance. assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

• • assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

• • affected an interest in art

pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

• • pretended that nothing had happened

simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

• • cosmetics that simulate a suntan

feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

• • feigned sickness

counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

• • an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

• • shammed a most unconvincing limp