1
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the feigned applause that polite people give after a bad concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
the feigned looks of innocence I got when I asked who had broken the lamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pretended
to present a false appearance of
I would never feign illness just to get out of a test
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of feigned
Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Spare me the feigned outrage, Feeny.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Dylan Heinrich, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Those of us who would love to have agents and publishing houses dictating our next books feigned sympathy.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Adjective
Though shrouded in feigned care for the wrongful death of an unborn child, HB 289 and HB 663 will have horrific effects on women, their families and all medical professionals working in gynecology and obstetrics.
—Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Spare me the feigned outrage, Feeny.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
The reason for his astonishment, real or perhaps somewhat feigned?
—Dylan Heinrich, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Those of us who would love to have agents and publishing houses dictating our next books feigned sympathy.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feigned
Adjective
-
In his new mock draft, Miller has the Bills picking up a key weapon.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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In addition to the original trunk and items on display, the Center for Sacramento History and the history museum created a mock trunk inspired by the original for school programs throughout the region.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Obama recently teamed up with NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards to squash their fake beef while promoting his Obama Presidential Center opening June 19 in Chicago.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The studio put an ad in The Boston Globe in December that looked like a fake engagement announcement.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The criminals pretended to work for the FBI.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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This time, the scammers pretended to be representatives of Indiana and Maryland’s courts.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fuel subsidies threaten to blow a hole in Jakarta’s already strained budget.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Data centers have sparked backlash from communities across the state that are worried about higher utility bills, strained power grids and water being diverted away from families to cool servers at massive data centers.—
Brendan Steinhauser,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sinner, the 2024 Miami Open champion, became the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double — winning Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back — and the first in history to win the double without losing a set.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Seven stacks of tiny paper cups were arranged to the left, next to packets of Nescafé, pouches of two-minute noodles, and a double gas burner connected to the cylinder—the main tool of his trade.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And even those who do own their own home aren’t immune—taxes, energy bills, and grocery prices have all surged, quietly eroding the financial cushion many assumed would last decades.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Johan assumed Zack would be going to prison for a long time.—
Rich Schapiro,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Five of the cases involved hospice care facilities in several cities across Los Angeles County that submitted false claims to Medicare for patients who were not terminally ill and were not eligible for services, prosecutors said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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This means that precious time was likely lost at the beginning as police investigated a lead that was based on false assumptions.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Nov. 2025
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The pop of color offers a shimmer-free (rare!) means of warming up a wedding look and works equally well at lip level.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feigned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feigned. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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