feign

verb

ˈfān How to pronounce feign (audio)
Definition of feignnext
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of I would never feign illness just to get out of a test

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb feign contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of feign are affect, assume, counterfeit, pretend, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When can affect be used instead of feign?

The meanings of affect and feign largely overlap; however, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

When is assume a more appropriate choice than feign?

In some situations, the words assume and feign are roughly equivalent. However, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

When could counterfeit be used to replace feign?

The words counterfeit and feign can be used in similar contexts, but counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

When might pretend be a better fit than feign?

The synonyms pretend and feign are sometimes interchangeable, but pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

When is it sensible to use sham instead of feign?

Although the words sham and feign have much in common, sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When would simulate be a good substitute for feign?

While the synonyms simulate and feign are close in meaning, 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 feign The short, which brings soap opera levels of drama, is a coming-of-age dramedy following two teens from different walks of life feigning a relationship and falling for each other in the process. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 4 July 2025 And Cluff, despite feigning annoyance in the video, actually cherishes his wife's animal-loving nature. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 The advisee who feigns receptivity lays a terrible trap; woe to the adviser who does not think to step around it. —Merve Emre, New Yorker, 16 June 2025 The actress first feigned collapsing after Joy Behar made a joke about Sean Combs. —Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for feign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feign
  1. pretend
  2. simulate
  3. assume
Verb
  • There were Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen pretending to make out.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 July 2025
  • Upon spotting himself on the big screen, Cohen immediately reached over and pretended to make out with a shocked Cooper.
    — Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 22 July 2025
Definition of pretend
Verb
  • The captain announces the trip, vibrating chairs simulate the real thing while the plane windows offer views of the departure city (San Francisco), the sky and the tarmac upon landing in Mexico City.
    — Susan Stapleton, AZCentral.com, 31 July 2025
  • The other Chargers tight ends would stand in front of Gates during practice and latch onto the different pieces of the vest to simulate the coverages Gates was seeing at the line of scrimmage.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Definition of simulate
Verb
  • Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger, with Brown’s character flying to Atlanta to find his wife, who was previously assumed dead.
    — Giana Levy, Variety, 28 July 2025
  • The team assumed command of firefighting efforts on July 26, according to InciWeb.
    — Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 28 July 2025
Definition of assume

Browse Nearby Words

feet of clay
feign
feigned
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Feign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feign. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on feign

Nglish: Translation of feign for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
iykyk if you know you know slang written in a neon
Quiz: Abbreviation Station TFW you have to figure out what 15 abbreviations ...
See All