as in actor
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show)
a brawling actor who is in danger of becoming better known as a thug than as a thesp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thesp
That fall, the Toronto playwright and performer got cast in a new play and hit it off with fellow thesp Fab Filippo, also a performer who created his own work.
—
Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thesp
Noun
-
Being an actor means constantly outputting — expressing — but rarely having time to take in new experiences.—
Gavin J Blair,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The halter neck and close-fitting dress is a signature shape for the actor, and of course, a go-to label.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Emma Thompson is a two-time Oscar winner, taking home best actress for Howards End (1992) and best adapted screenplay for Sense and Sensibility (1995).—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Roemer and the couple's daughter both wore mint green dresses, with the Disturbia actress, 40, looking elegant in a halter neckline and their daughter wearing a tulle dress with a flower design on it.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Earlier, Fox shared footage of herself to her Instagram Story, which showed her — as the former first lady — grabbing the breast of performer Linux.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Hans is engaged to a fellow performer, but Cleopatra has her eyes on Hans’s sizable inheritance.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thesp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thesp. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share