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play-acting

VERB

act

Synonyms

WEAK

be on bring down the house burlesque characterize do do a turn dramatize emote enact feign go on go over ham ham it up impersonate lay an egg make debut mime mimic mug parody perform personate personify play play act play gig play part play role portray pretend put it over rehearse represent say one's piece simulate star stooge strut take part tread the boards

VERB

pretend

Synonyms

WEAK

act assume the role counterfeit dissemble fake feign imagine imitate impersonate make as if make believe make out like make up masquerade mimic play playact portray pose purport put on put on a front put on airs put on an act represent reproduce sham simulate suppose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Investors need to be able to distinguish “the play-acting from the real stuff.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 20, 2026

Even when he's play-acting, as he was on Monday at Arlington, he can't seem to get it right.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2024

The melding of literature, play-acting and mockumentary-like humor centers this key notion that binary narratives of trans lives simply won’t cut it, but that engagement with art, beauty and creativity can and should.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2023

More importantly, the long awful course of history reminds us how slippery the slope is from play-acting as a strike force to actually behaving as a strike force.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2021

If I wanted to fit in I’d have to pretend, and I’m no good at play-acting.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver