playact

verb

Definition of playactnext
as in to pose

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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 playact Today, Margaret would be playacting her own massacre in active shooter drills at school. — Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 1 May 2023 Trump’s modus, as ever, was to playact; his game has always been improv. — Joe Klein, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2023 Today, this dynamic lives on in the form of Roblox strip clubs, where young people — mostly, minors — playact at adult sexuality. — Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2021 Yona has it better than the locals who have agreed to playact, and likely die, in Mui’s fake new disaster. — Madeline Leung Coleman, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2020 In a twist, The Sims is now a way to playact not just an alternate life, but any life at all. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2020 Cloud is almost childlike, a boy playacting at being a warrior and not always nailing the part. — Julie Muncy, Wired, 10 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playact
  1. pose
  2. masquerade
  3. pretend
  4. impersonate
  5. act
  6. play
  7. dissemble
  8. feign
Verb
  • Hudson-Smith went into the stand and up the stairs to pose next to his name, draped in the British flag, but was surrounded by too many empty seats.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There will be no lifeguards, and county rangers caution that the beach, like many along the Northern California coast, can have rip currents that pose a threat to inexperienced swimmers.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pose
Verb
  • The most powerful of the three attack variants causes the infected Windows machine to masquerade as an iPhone.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Set amid the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the tragic tale of Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is famous for allowing real nightmares to masquerade as bloody fairytales.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
Definition of masquerade
Verb
  • Storch does not pretend to be a long-distance lover of English football.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • An ostrich recommends that Taylor hide and pretend nothing happened.
    — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretend
Verb
  • Scammers can use this technology to impersonate family members, co-workers or celebrities.
    — Tam Nguyen, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Someone may impersonate your child, publish private conversations or send cruel messages to classmates.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of impersonate
Verb
  • With the leading models becoming ever more powerful, their ability to act in malicious ways is turning into a major threat for corporations and governments, especially as the risk involves hacking into critical computer systems and infrastructure.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The short-term goal is to host performances by local country acts each month.
    — DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of act
Verb
  • Phoenix guard Kelsey Plum did not play against the team that traded her a little over a week ago.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Knizner had been playing for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate but exercised his opt-out last week (before Susac’s injury), becoming a free agent.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of play
Verb
  • Instead, whole grains and foods are dissembled into molecules which, with the help of artificial colorings, flavorings and gluelike emulsifiers, are heated, pounded, shaped or extruded into any food a manufacturer can dream up.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
  • When McKenzie asks him how much he’s contributed to the coffers of politicians, his dodging of the question is pure dissembling theater.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of dissemble
Verb
  • Unafraid of sinking as low as possible at the welfare office, Dennis pretended to be recovering from a crack problem while Dee feigned intellectual disability, but the caseworker wasn’t buying it.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • Patients are often described as drug seekers and accused of feigning their pain.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Definition of feign

Browse Nearby Words

play
playact
playacted
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Cite this Entry

“Playact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playact. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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