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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
The song remains driven by a trend featuring two or more people, with one creator lip-synching in the foreground and others dancing or acting out a scene in the background.
—
Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 9 Jan. 2025
So maybe, on some level, Jeff was acting out his cavalier attitude toward his own masculine spirit.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
But by high school, Daniel began getting into trouble and acting out at home and in school, his father told the Miami Herald in the months after the stabbings.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
That day a student who had previously been disruptive in the classroom began to act out again, KDFW reported.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for act out 
Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 9 Jan. 2025
So maybe, on some level, Jeff was acting out his cavalier attitude toward his own masculine spirit.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
But by high school, Daniel began getting into trouble and acting out at home and in school, his father told the Miami Herald in the months after the stabbings.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
That day a student who had previously been disruptive in the classroom began to act out again, KDFW reported.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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There is no right to openly violate the law and disobey law enforcement.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
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Todd Orlowski, 53, of Danbury was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on Friday on charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer and engaging police in pursuit, according to Connecticut State Police.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Three generations later, their grandchildren are carrying on that legacy.—
Melissa Adan,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2025
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There’s potential — through Tranquill — for her husband’s legacy to carry on.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Allergies acting up: Homeowners who are sensitive to dust, pollen, or animal hair may notice their allergies acting up before anything else.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2025
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As such, when a supporting character acts up, Dreux or Alyssa can rib them, but not too viciously.—
Fred Topel,
Deadline,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps her subconscious is rebelling, realizing she’s been crossing too many moral and ethical lines.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2025
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In the early stages of the Cold War, Hungary, a client state controlled by the USSR, rebelled, fueled by student demonstrations arguing for secession and freedom of speech.—
Daniel Seifert,
JSTOR Daily,
5 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 2025.
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