as in to raise hell
to behave badly
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that investigators were looking into the possibility that some of the perpetrators had acted out of financial incentives rather than ideological motivations.
—
Victoria Kim, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Your willingness to do that, rather than rushing to critical judgment, helps build and maintain strong, trusting parent-child relationships — without letting your kid off the hook for acting out, Kennedy added.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
While some young people recruited by Iran are acting out of frustration at Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, some are motivated by money.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
Friends Dog Grooming Car Toy Now for just $7, builders can act out a dog grooming scene with this Lego Friends kit.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for act out 
Victoria Kim, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Your willingness to do that, rather than rushing to critical judgment, helps build and maintain strong, trusting parent-child relationships — without letting your kid off the hook for acting out, Kennedy added.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
While some young people recruited by Iran are acting out of frustration at Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, some are motivated by money.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
Friends Dog Grooming Car Toy Now for just $7, builders can act out a dog grooming scene with this Lego Friends kit.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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At the end of a two-day hearing that saw Giuliani take the stand, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman agreed with the election workers that the former New York City mayor willfully disobeyed requirements to turn over information about his professional services and messaging accounts.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
6 Jan. 2025
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Philippine police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and her security staff for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders in an altercation in Congress over the brief detention of her chief of staff, who was accused of hampering the congressional inquiry.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, the character of the 1956 home has very much carried on decades later in its three bedroom, four bedroom space — even with some matching wallpaper and bedspreads.—
Chyna Blackmon,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Jan. 2025
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However, a handful of events will carry on with a charitable component, including the starry Clive Davis party and MusiCares tribute concert.—
Kirsten Chuba,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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All that lightweight foam underfoot can help keep your arches from acting up when your mileage starts to climb on long-distance runs.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
SELF,
27 Nov. 2024
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Urban Meyer is getting increasingly frustrated with him and other players acting up, to the point that the stress and increasingly long work hours are beginning to really affect his physical health.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady, now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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Today’s Supreme Court unanimously and actively embraces a progressive writing style, rebelling against old-school grammar rules, according to my study of 10,000 pages of opinions from the past decade.—
Jill Barton,
The Conversation,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near act out
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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