1
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a crafty child given to frequent dissembling to get what she wants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceit
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have
in the end the preacher's smarmy dissembling is discovered, and he is exposed as a fraud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dissimulating
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissembling
Noun
-
In the beginning, each player is secretly assigned as either a Faithful or a Traitor, setting the stage for an intense game of deception, strategy and survival.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025 -
After weeks of treachery and deception, the final roundtable has been viewed, and the winner or winners for The Traitors Season 3 have been revealed.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Much of the series’ pathos hinges on the growing schism between mother and son as Kanan begins to understand the horrors of Raq’s machinations and deceit (including tricking him into assassinating his biological father), leading him to try to go into business for himself.—
Robyn Bahr,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Thirteen showed signs of possible deceit or suspicious activity.—
Donna McGuire,
Ian Cummings,
and Glenn E. Rice,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
While maintaining a quirky and mysterious air, the show yields questions like, is a cult real if its creators are pretending but its followers aren’t?—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
24 Dec. 2024
-
June Squibb plays the titular Thelma, who gets taken in by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) to the tune of $10,000.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Her unsettling command of the character — who was equal parts sweet, vulnerable, mendacious, and menacing — was one of the highlights of the series.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Two stand out: his profile and endorsement, in 2000, of Ralph Nader’s independent presidential campaign, and his early opposition to George W. Bush’s disastrous and mendacious invasion of Iraq.—
Yiyun Li,
Harper's Magazine,
23 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
As such, even assuming that some more tariffs are put on, the potential impact on China's economy overall is likely to be limited.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Even when assuming that a product works well and its technology and application are based on sound and robust scientific evidence, adoption and long-term success depend heavily on a customer's first experience and expectations.—
Mattia Lucchini,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
After Elizabeth Holmes lost her last-ditch effort to overturn her 2022 fraud conviction by a federal appeals court on Monday, Feb. 24, the former Theranos founder responded to the decision from behind bars.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
5 Mar. 2025
-
In 2023, researchers revealed that tens of thousands of Android TV boxes being used in homes, schools, and businesses were equipped with secret backdoors that allowed them to be used in a host of cybercrime and online fraud.—
Lily Hay Newman,
WIRED,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Unfolding with a tense, uncanny rhythm, the film knocks you over the head with its cynical ideas about class, privilege and the hypocrisies of white guilt.—
Beatrice Loayza,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
-
China and other rivals have gained yet another example to add to their long narrative of U.S. capriciousness and hypocrisy.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Now for the real fun: Beyond the Gates has a secret weapon in Karla Mosley as Dani Dupree, whose trainwreck of a divorce from duplicitous lawyer Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) serves as the catalyst for much of the show’s drama.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
24 Feb. 2025
-
The plot concerns three main players: a suave con man (Ha Jung-woo), the low-level grifter he’s conscripted into a scheme (Kim Tae-ri), and a housebound heiress (Kim Min-hee), all locked in a duplicitous love triangle.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Dissembling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissembling. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share