1
2
as in show
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in law
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature
the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thing
something done by someone
it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to play
to present a portrayal or performance of
a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol
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2
3
4
5
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
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6
as in to mock
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of act
Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Her words also channel the playwright’s approach to structuring this family drama; Dillman drops a juicy reveal before intermission and begins the second act with a series of flashbacks, leaving viewers waiting to see the fallout.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
The two first met when they were paired together in an acting class.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Noun
Writing it, one senses, was a high-wire act over an abyss of pain, agitation, uncertainty, and the dread of being ignored or misunderstood.
—Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Her words also channel the playwright’s approach to structuring this family drama; Dillman drops a juicy reveal before intermission and begins the second act with a series of flashbacks, leaving viewers waiting to see the fallout.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
During a virtual all-hands meeting with employees on Friday, CMS acting Administrator Stephanie Carlton detailed some of the specific offices at the agency impacted by cuts under Kennedy’s broader plan to restructure the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
The two first met when they were paired together in an acting class.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act
Noun
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If the disability arts community helped lift Kim’s career, her remarkable success has in turn propelled the field.—
Mara Mills,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
-
This in turn slows down expansion plans, especially in the offshore drilling sector, which requires heavy infrastructure investment.—
Steven Dudash,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Oscar winner — who both wrote and stars in the stage adaptation of the 2005 movie Good Night, and Good Luck — celebrated the official Broadway opening of the show at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on Thursday, April 3, without his wife.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The White Lotus Season 3 finale is this weekend and one character will not make it out of the show alive.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The day Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — a law that has only ever been used during wartime — as a legally shaky justification to detain and deport non-citizens.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed likely to uphold a law allowing Americans injured by acts of terror in the Middle East to take Palestinian leadership groups to U.S. courts for damages.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Jake Paul has nothing but good things to say about his Disney days.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Few things can complicate the otherwise straightforward matter of death quite like family and the possibility of inheritance.—
Ashley Case,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Engage Your Senses In a shared office environment, playing loud music or lighting a scented candle is frowned upon.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Goodrich leads all scorers with 39 points in the 106-98 loss at Chicago. 1972 — Wilt Chamberlain plays his last pro basketball game.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The pair worked closely together while Dolan was on the board of directors for Catholic Charities Twin Cities from 2012 to 2017.—
Brian Brant,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Jonah Bride worked the count full before getting ball 4, and Graham Pauley cleared the bases with a deep double to left field.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The bulk of any 'savings' seems to come from cutting approximately 300,000 W-2 government employees.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
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Even this number seems aspirational should Vulcan not fly its initial mission before this summer.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The company includes Florida Blue, trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, and now serves over 38 million people across 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands with more than 18,000 employees.—
Bruce Japsen,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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The role of lawyers truly isn't to serve as cheerleaders for any one administration.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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