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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 act out
Travelers who act out drunk in public risk a fine up to €4,000 (around $4,300.64), the U.K. website states.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
The show opens with the filming of a Continental movie, with Paul Dano acting out a deadly fight scene while director Peter Berg looks on.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
The skits are loose and funny and acted out entirely by college students.
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2025
Zimmerman had argued that while the defendant in his case, William Gregory — charged with drug possession, criminal trespass and shoplifting— had clearly acted out of self-interest and that the vaccine was for the societal good and indicative of Gregory’s rehabilitation.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
The show opens with the filming of a Continental movie, with Paul Dano acting out a deadly fight scene while director Peter Berg looks on.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
The skits are loose and funny and acted out entirely by college students.
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2025
Zimmerman had argued that while the defendant in his case, William Gregory — charged with drug possession, criminal trespass and shoplifting— had clearly acted out of self-interest and that the vaccine was for the societal good and indicative of Gregory’s rehabilitation.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Ben Warren is also trying to win back Teddy’s confidence after disobeying her orders during the heat wave.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Pike faced a momentous decision: follow orders to retreat, or disobey them to rescue his crew.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The 2009 Tiger Woods cheating scandal The scandal, which broke in 2009, revealed that Woods had been carrying on multiple affairs, including with Uchitel, while married to his then-wife Elin Nordegren.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
-
But the symbol has relevance today as the conflict between Israel-Hamas carries on.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Is his palm injury acting up again, or the pressure to join the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, who won 3 times at The PLAYERS Championship?—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Clarke Schmidt’s back acted up, and then his shoulder.—
Brendan Kuty,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Given recent rumors that those in bondage intended to rebel, the delegation accepted his explanation, withdrew and convinced the waiting crowd outside to disperse.—
Andrew Lawler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Elphaba and Glinda, who spent the first act and film becoming unlikely friends, go their separate ways as Elphaba chooses to rebel against the Wizard and Glinda stays behind.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share