feign
Example Sentences
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Or that night we stumbled onto a giant controlled burn and saw the flames reach up and tickle the moon and recognized the gnawing feeling that fire is something we can only feign to control.
From Los Angeles Times β Jan. 5, 2026
Our civilization shouldn’t feign excessive humility and modesty while America inspires creative drive.
From The Wall Street Journal β Dec. 18, 2025
It’s weird to be paranoid or to feign paranoia as part of an elaborate performance to manipulate rubes.
From Slate β Aug. 6, 2025
I would feign shock or dismay at its popularity if I didn’t already know that we are a nation of self-serving masochists.
From Salon β Apr. 8, 2025
“Please,” I pleaded, not needing to feign abjection.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
She feigns outrage loudly, according to people who like her, and yells maniacally, according to people who don’t.
From The Wall Street Journal β Sep. 5, 2026
Like everything else in the movie, it’s artifice that feigns at being fact.
From Los Angeles Times β Feb. 26, 2025
When I confront the group of boys, one feigns innocence, claiming he’d been speaking to his friend.
From BBC β Nov. 9, 2024
Lydia, who craves to be seen by her family, feigns craving death because of her relationship with Barbara and Adam, who live in the afterlife.
From Salon β Sep. 11, 2024
While Jasper, his spaniel ears a-droop, feigns indifference to the arrival of the cakes.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
As those scenes played in New York, Swift affectionately turned to Saunders and yelled, "YES!" as he giggled and covered his face in feigned shyness.
From BBC β Dec. 12, 2025
I feigned disappointment but secretly sighed with relief: The last time I’d come, the pod’s door hadn’t closed, spiking my adrenaline even more during the seven-minute trip across the valley.
From The Wall Street Journal β Oct. 30, 2025
“We’re supposed to be bright and alert pupils with intelligent and witty repartee,” Cumberbatch says, straightening up with feigned attention.
From Los Angeles Times β Aug. 28, 2025
“Oliver’s feigned outrage at Dr. Morley was fabricated for ratings and profits at the expense of Dr. Morley’s reputation and personal well-being.”
From Los Angeles Times β Apr. 2, 2025
He glanced at me and feigned a smile.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco JimΓ©nez
In some cases, bureaucrats resorted to ostentatious gestures and outright fraud, feigning adherence to unrealistic targets and masking underperformance.
From The Wall Street Journal β Jun. 28, 2026
Spaeny: It’s what every actor is thinking except they’re feigning ...
From Los Angeles Times β May 27, 2026
However, the “Hannah Montana” star did not end her mockery there—going on to accuse Cooper of feigning innocence about the proximity of their properties.
From MarketWatch β Mar. 31, 2026
Crisis actor is a derogatory label used by conspiracy theorists to allege that someone is deceiving the public -- feigning injuries or death -- while posing as a victim of a tragic event.
From Barron's β Dec. 16, 2025
Brother Ugo pointed a gnarled finger at him, feigning hurt.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Vocabulary lists containing feign
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 1
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Romeo and Juliet
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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