as in actor
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show)
a brawling actor who is in danger of becoming better known as a thug than as a thesp
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thesp
Mincan found his ideal leads in German-Romanian actor Niko Becker and Philippine thesp Soliman Cruz (pictured).
—
Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Nov. 2022
That fall, the Toronto playwright and performer got cast in a new play and hit it off with fellow thesp Fab Filippo, also a performer who created his own work.
—Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Anne Hathaway, a skilled thesp, is no match for Huston as the villainous lead.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Egons Dombrovskis, one of the film’s weak acting links), who beats his meek wife Smaida (Polish thesp Agata Buzek, underused here).
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 6 Dec. 2021
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Nov. 2022
That fall, the Toronto playwright and performer got cast in a new play and hit it off with fellow thesp Fab Filippo, also a performer who created his own work.
—Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Anne Hathaway, a skilled thesp, is no match for Huston as the villainous lead.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Egons Dombrovskis, one of the film’s weak acting links), who beats his meek wife Smaida (Polish thesp Agata Buzek, underused here).
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 6 Dec. 2021
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thesp
Noun
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The episode opens with the chilling 911 call made on the night of Phoenix’s death, instantly setting the tone for a deep and emotional journey into the young actor’s life.—
William Earl,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
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It’s already been four years since the last James Bond movie, Daniel Craig’s Bond swan song, No Time to Die, was released in theaters, and, in that lull, there’s still no new actor cast as James Bond.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Dawson’s Creek costars Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson have reunited to star in a new movie trilogy called Happy Hours, which the 46-year-old actress is also directing.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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In contrast, others may know her as the first Asian Pacific American actress to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Fiction Program for her performance in the digital series, The Bay.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thesp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thesp. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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