as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
it was clear to her friends that her reaction to the news was pure playacting
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Recent Examples of playacting
Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Hence the infamous playacting subplot in her 1814 novel Mansfield Park, a novel written when Austen was at her professional peak.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playacting
Noun
-
In the movie, members of the narcotics unit face suspicion for allegedly stealing some of the money under false pretenses and for their own benefit.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
The company seems to have dropped any pretence of regular pricing.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Each game was introduced with a clip from the show that fits it perfectly, starting with the Colts' Week 1 date with the Baltimore Ravens.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Now, viewers for dramas, comedies and reality shows are harder to come by, because people now have the leeway to watch their favorites at any moment of their own choosing.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
With half the nation posing financial questions to AI, trillions of dollars in savings and investments could ride on the answers.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
The couple could be seen posing together in a few photos.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Stay in a Former Warehouse Meantime, Gibson’s Warehouse is a boutique property with a history of its own, and one that dates to the early 1900s when this inn got its start as a warehouse with a brick façade.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
-
This dual-purpose envelope combines functionality with expressive design, creating a facade that is both energy efficient and visually striking.—
Adam Williams
May 13,
New Atlas,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Herbert's not going through the motions and pretending to be a relationship with a pop singer like some aging tight end.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Washington state’s House Bill 2225, due to come into effect in January 2027, will explicitly ban manipulative techniques such as excessive praise, pretending to feel distress, encouraging isolation from family, or creating overdependent relationships.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
But as the debate gains national attention, more families argue that acknowledging biological differences is not an act of hatred.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
The act, the first piece of legislation focused on crypto, would add oversight and guardrails to the new industry.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The win is Graham’s first BAFTA Television Award in eight nominations, all in the acting categories, a fact Graham noted when collecting his award.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 May 2026
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Such is the longevity and quality of Graham’s output, the fact that Adolescence has delivered his first BAFTA acting prize will come as a surprise to some.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Closing loopholes that allowed sometimes large apartment buildings in backyards under the guise of accessory dwelling units.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
Ménochet is a scary wonder as Marc, a great bear of a man who is chillingly adept at hiding his rage and possessiveness under the guise of a gentle, enlightened ascetic.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playacting. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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