1
as in played
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in seemed
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in served
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretended
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in mocked
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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Recent Examples of acted
The man who crashed an explosive-laden truck into a Michigan synagogue where scores of children were at daycare acted as an operative of Hezbollah, the foreign terrorist organization based in Lebanon, federal officials said March 30.
—
Michael Loria, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Firms acted like the metaphorical kid in a candy store with talent, grabbing every shiny new candidate that crossed their applicant tracking system, with some, like Amazon, even doubling their headcount between 2019 and 2021.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
In an interview with CBS News Texas on Monday, Bazaldua said Tolbert acted inappropriately.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Michele Brophy acted as a mentor to the woman — who did not respond to a request from CT Mirror for an interview.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
Call to arms The Twins acted coyly for a while about who would get the starting pitching assignments for the rest of the Royals series, but right-handers Joe Ryan (Wednesday night) and Taj Bradley (Thursday afternoon) will round things out, Shelton said.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Bessent simply acted swiftly and tactically, with little regard for precedent and a high tolerance for political risk.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The board has always acted unanimously and has been unafraid to stand up for the taxpayers and face down the most powerful man in the city.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Citi India acted as financial advisor to United Spirits while AZB & Partners was its attorney.
—Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Michael Loria, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Firms acted like the metaphorical kid in a candy store with talent, grabbing every shiny new candidate that crossed their applicant tracking system, with some, like Amazon, even doubling their headcount between 2019 and 2021.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
In an interview with CBS News Texas on Monday, Bazaldua said Tolbert acted inappropriately.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Michele Brophy acted as a mentor to the woman — who did not respond to a request from CT Mirror for an interview.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
Call to arms The Twins acted coyly for a while about who would get the starting pitching assignments for the rest of the Royals series, but right-handers Joe Ryan (Wednesday night) and Taj Bradley (Thursday afternoon) will round things out, Shelton said.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Bessent simply acted swiftly and tactically, with little regard for precedent and a high tolerance for political risk.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The board has always acted unanimously and has been unafraid to stand up for the taxpayers and face down the most powerful man in the city.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Citi India acted as financial advisor to United Spirits while AZB & Partners was its attorney.
—Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acted
Verb
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Takaoka played a long arcing ball-ahead to Ocampo, who avoided goalkeeper James Pantemis — who had charged off his line — and rolled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the back post and into a wide-open net.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The Current’s still one of the most talented teams in the league, boasting such USWNT veterans as Cooper, Sentnor and LaBonta, along with women who’ve played for other countries — Lorena and midfielder Rocky Rodriguez (Costa Rica), for instance.—
PJ Green
April 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cazares and Grant-Dawson worked together to get the Bay Area-district out of insolvency, after which HYA Corporation took over fiscal responsibility.—
Scott Lebar. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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The beneficiary of Adell’s first catch was starter Jack Kochanowicz, who worked 5⅔ innings, with seven strikeouts.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the time of her nomination, Bondi seemed to have the attributes of an attorney general.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The whites of lights and balloons popped, and black suits seemed extremely dark while clearly retaining their cuts and contours.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After bagels and coffee were served, the participants began sharing feelings that many had been afraid to articulate—including discomfort with narratives that cast Israel solely as a victim, and shame about the escalating civilian death toll in Gaza.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Shepherd has also served on his homeowners’ association board and is a parent.—
Nathan Pilling
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The criminals pretended to work for the FBI.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This time, the scammers pretended to be representatives of Indiana and Maryland’s courts.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But many other comments mocked the shop along with its presidential namesake, with a few detractors posting memes of tearful snowflakes topped with red MAGA hats.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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One of the earliest of American masculinity influencers was President Theodore Roosevelt, who touted his own transformation from a timid, effeminate man – local presses mocked him in his early career – to a rugged outdoorsman.—
Miriam Eve Mora,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Dion last performed in Paris during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, singing from the balcony of the Eiffel Tower.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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In 2023 and 2024, the band performed just down the road from Billy Bob’s Texas at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The venue is operated by Another Planet Entertainment and has hosted around 80 shows in its first year, with nearly half selling out.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Law enforcement who responded to the scene of the crisis like Jeff Boyes, a SWAT team member and sniper, operated with a similar initial understanding.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acted. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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