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
-
Earlier this month, the Kremlin announced that this year’s Victory Day parade, held every May 9th in Red Square to commemorate the Soviet victory in the Second World War, which is typically a show of Russian might, would be a modest, small-scale affair.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Related Stories Original stars of the show were in short supply, with several key cast members having passed on — including Paul Reubens, who died three years ago, and Phil Hartman and Lynne Marie Stewart, who died in 1998 and 2025, respectively.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
On the morning before his final Governor’s Fishing Opener in the title role, Tim Walz stood on the Stillwater waterfront, posing for myriad pictures and doing interviews with the community’s iconic Lift Bridge and the bluffs of Wisconsin behind him.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
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Belkin was also photographed days earlier, on April 23, posing on a boat while wearing the signature swimsuit.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Historic preservation is often dismissed as nostalgia, the hobby of people who prefer old facades to modern needs.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
My mosaic facade, titled Human Dignity Shall Be Inviolable, covers the German pavilion at scale.—
Pablo Larios,
Artforum,
6 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
-
The series is not just a chronicle of the planet’s wonders but a specific act of historical homage.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
As the landscape continues to favor those who prioritize sustainable profitability alongside expansion, the retailers and brands who can master this balancing act will not only survive current market volatility but will emerge as the most attractive targets for future investment and acquisition.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Turner sold his business to Time Warner in 1996 and his operation has continued in one guise or another since then.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Farage has been through various guises.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playacting. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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