assume

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assume contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assume are affect, counterfeit, feign, pretend, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

When would affect be a good substitute for assume?

The words affect and assume are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

In what contexts can counterfeit take the place of assume?

In some situations, the words counterfeit and assume are roughly equivalent. However, counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

How does the word feign relate to other synonyms for assume?

Feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When is it sensible to use pretend instead of assume?

While in some cases nearly identical to assume, pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

When is sham a more appropriate choice than assume?

The words sham and assume can be used in similar contexts, but sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When might simulate be a better fit than assume?

The synonyms simulate and assume are sometimes interchangeable, but simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

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 assume During that time, the mayor became the chief executive officer, assumed all the city manager duties, was no longer part of the City Council and had veto authority over most council actions. Donna Frye, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025 Don’t assume a pricier spray is superior, says Hooper. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 6 June 2025 The industry assumes engine testing has to happen in remote areas. Curt Steinhorst, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 In a revealing interview on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Omos detailed his journey from assuming his rapid growth was normal to facing a critical health crisis. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for assume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assume
Verb
  • Ryan Bos, who has been executive director of DC’s Capital Pride Alliance since 2011, was thrilled when the group’s bid to host WorldPride was accepted in 2022.
    Susan Miller, USA Today, 6 June 2025
  • The two women had the criminal charges against them dropped at a court hearing last month, in which the prosecution accepted they had been duped and Emmanuel-Thomas changed his plea to guilty.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Padilla said he got fed up listening to her remarks about criminals and invasions and tried to ask a question, while moving forward past the wall of television cameras.
    Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
  • Shortly after, Kehl would fall to his death at a neighboring building — police have yet to say if the fall was intentional or accidental.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • The wild speculation quickly unfurled, with fans guessing that Gallagher may have been hinting at warm-up gigs or additional dates.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 June 2025
  • But because of her quiet disposition, her grandchildren never would have guessed it.
    Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • And by the 1930s, some of the parties, particularly Nazi Germany, merely pretended to abide by treaty limits.
    Eric S. Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Becker and colleagues employed a Pavlov-like research design to figure out whether people can decouple the sensation of pain from the experience of that pain.
    Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Instead, Lloyd employed a bare stage and an ensemble of actors dressed all in black.
    Jenelle Riley, Variety, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Younger Mainers might end up shouldering the weight of property taxes, especially considering that the Pine Tree State's population is the oldest in the nation, with nearly a quarter of its population over the age of 65, according to a 2024 report by the State Economist of Maine.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • However, the reality is that a democratic society relies on the group shouldering some costs for the benefit of the whole.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Bringing Parsimony To Web Scraping The principle of parsimony, also known as Ockham's razor, says not to presume too much when fewer presumptions are enough to explain something.
    Julius Černiauskas, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Another Bedford soldier was killed elsewhere on Omaha Beach, and three others were presumed killed in action, bringing Bedford’s D-Day fatality figure to 20 men.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • What that era taught me was to just trust myself, and trust that everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to, and trust that relationships are put into your life for a reason.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
  • The authors speculate that young, curious dogs scavenge and eat items they are not supposed to, leading to unpleasant accidents.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assume. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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