assume

Definition of assumenext
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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 The instinct, especially in creative fields built on apprenticeship, is to assume erosion. Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026 Licata, who was brought in after the Texas Education Agency assumed control of the district, and Board of Trustees Chair Peter Geren signed off on the contract this week. Doug Myers, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 The film sees Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides fully assume his place as the messiah of the Fremen, the people of Arrakis. Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 The Egyptians probably assumed that the animal’s decaying body would transform into new life in the form of bees. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assume
Verb
  • The original complaint claims the airport violated federal grant assurances connected to more than $1 million the county accepted since 2022, when the effective ban on ultralights began.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Because this energy is centered in Scorpio and Cancer, we’re blessed with the depth of soul needed to accept the true needs of others and ourselves.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After Queta turned in another standout performance in Sunday’s 115-101 win over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden, Brown stumped for the breakout big man, saying, unprompted, that Queta deserves award consideration.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Some of the largest insurers in the world are creating data center specific avenues to manage the projects, Gallagher’s Harper said.
    April Roach, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Foster said a few people correctly guessed the breed combination.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
  • There is a famous idea that large groups can be good at guessing simple things, like — like the weight of a bull.
    Gary Shapiro, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Wolf, ruled out for the season Friday but still available for his exit interview before Sunday’s game, didn’t pretend the season has been enjoyable.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • This team is improved, has a deeper roster, no longer pretends Kris Bryant is a major league player and features more functional pitchers (No, seriously).
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • First, movies are workplaces, and Nirenberg’s interviewees reveal the stressful negotiations involved in the daily life of filmmaking—not only with executives and producers but also with directors, who, though employed by those very same businesspeople, are also the immediate bosses of the crew.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • The company soon employed nearly 1,000 workers, but frosts and finally the hurricane of 1926 killed the sugar crops and drove the company away.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Apponequet won 19 times a season ago and coach Nathan Farrington has a dynamic duo of Reese Taylor and Sarah Delvecchio to shoulder the pitching load while Marissa Kelly will help lead the offense.
    Matt Roy, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
  • That letter cited repair costs shouldered by lower-income residents who own older vehicles that are more likely to fail, plus an average failure rate below 1% for vehicle models released in the last 10 years.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In September 1879, the girl died of viral encephalitis — presumed to have been transmitted by a mosquito — just weeks before her 13th birthday.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Senior European officials fear the economic and political implications of the conflict are likely to prove far worse than initially presumed, according to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of Europe at Eurasia Group.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When are Americans supposed to retire?
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Right now, our California Department of Education — which is really supposed to be helping inform policy and deliver the implementation — reports to both the state superintendent and to the governor.
    Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Assume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assume. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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