as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
it was clear to her friends that her reaction to the news was pure playacting
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Recent Examples of playacting
James Pearce, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Hence the infamous playacting subplot in her 1814 novel Mansfield Park, a novel written when Austen was at her professional peak.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Alexis Mac Allister, whose fall from grace this season has been akin to Fabinho’s stark decline in 2022-23, stupidly delayed the taking of a Villa corner with some playacting which even prompted Slot to tell him to get up.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Hence the infamous playacting subplot in her 1814 novel Mansfield Park, a novel written when Austen was at her professional peak.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playacting
Noun
-
Officials allege the group sold the oil under false pretenses and used the profits to sustain and expand the original food fraud scheme.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
There was the pretense of happiness in his childhood home in Depression-era New York (the city is captured in terrifically evocative clips).—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Each game was introduced with a clip from the show that fits it perfectly, starting with the Colts' Week 1 date with the Baltimore Ravens.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Now, viewers for dramas, comedies and reality shows are harder to come by, because people now have the leeway to watch their favorites at any moment of their own choosing.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
In England, the Women’s Super League’s commitment is attracting more and more talent to England, and at some point, Spain’s lack of investment in women’s football, not the club, will end up posing a problem for Barca — as seen in Arsenal’s triumph in the final over the Spanish side last year.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Pratt spent most of his two hours at the Hyde Park block party talking and posing for photos with the hundred or so people who showed up.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
Noun
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Behind a red brick facade complemented by dark green shutters and a matching front door, the home spans about 5,200 square feet across three stories.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
19 May 2026
-
Glittering with the Edwardian charm of its grand façade at one of London’s great addresses—140 Park Lane—London Marriott Hotel Park Lane offers plush stays for low‑key business travelers who put a premium on privacy, set opposite a leafy corner of Hyde Park.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The two initially make a deal where Hannah exchanges free tutoring lessons for Garrett pretending to be her boyfriend, making her crush jealous.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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With the war’s turbulence on the economy more prevalent and the internet now throttled, Russians no longer have the luxury of pretending the war in Ukraine isn’t happening.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Passages may feel incongruous at times, generating themselves from unknown electrical triggers, but the stretches of silence Doran and Carlile weave throughout act as a kind of connective tissue.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2026
-
The Russians believe the drones use a mesh radio, so each Martian acts as a relay for other drones, creating a covert communications network behind Russian lines.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Rousey left the sport after consecutive losses, while Carano moved on to an acting career after taking her first loss.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
-
These themes emerged out of conversations Dusabejambo had with these actual women, traumatized and/or guilty, before casting them in the film despite no acting experience.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The ensuing tug-of-war is driven by Karl’s second wife, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), another story accelerant in the guise of a person.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 May 2026
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Lee plays Lee, a martial artist recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate the island drug and human trafficking ring operated by Han (Shih Kien) under the guise of a martial arts tournament.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playacting. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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