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
-
On the day of Lincoln’s election, the Wide Awakes patrolled polling places under the pretense of protecting democracy, while opponents viewed it as voter intimidation.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities said the gun had been purchased under false pretenses in Indiana.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 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
-
Online adult platforms are being severely restricted these days as new laws banning materials involving adults pretending to be under 18 are put into place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 May 2026
-
Other highlights from the show included a sketch where Rodrigo and Ben Marshall played a pair of exes pretending to be in new relationships, as well as the latest edition of a recurring sketch about Shop TV hosts selling a product that looks very inappropriate.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 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
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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 show is postapocalyptic and emotionally manipulative—think The Last of Us meets This Is Us—but the supple acting and careful character development pay off in the latest season.—
Dan Zak,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
-
Republicans only need to keep a 50-seat caucus, with Vice President JD Vance acting as the tie-breaking vote, to retain control of the Senate.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 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 10 May. 2026.
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