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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Scottish actor Alan Cumming will also be returning to host Season 4, Peacock confirmed.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Lead actor Nikhil Siddhartha took to X to address the incident and confirm the safety of all cast and crew members.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Of particular pain to him is watching Moore, who died recently, and who never made it as an actress.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
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Creed actress Tessa Thompson, Evanescence singer Amy Lee and The Traitors season four contestant Bob the Drag Queen also posted videos to their Instagram Stories at the protests.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thesp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thesp. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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