1
2
as in shows
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in laws
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature
the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in things
something done by someone
it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in plays
to present a portrayal or performance of
a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in seems
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in functions
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in mocks
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acts
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Though Israel technically has the death penalty on the books as a possible punishment for acts of genocide, espionage during wartime and certain terror offenses, the country hasn’t put anyone to death since Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
According to the announcement Monday, additional music acts will be added in the weeks ahead.
—Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The league has leaned heavily on international acts in recent years — Snoop Dogg headlined in 2025, while KISS, Robbie Williams, Katy Perry and The Killers have all featured in the past decade.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Loosely billed as a hometown tour, the dates will pair the Baltimore-via-Greenville trio with local support acts, including Dan Deacon and Ed Schrader’s Music Beat at that last show.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
At the No Kings Street Fest in Palo Alto along El Camino Real, more than 4,000 attendees listened to musical acts and participated in activity stations, said Michael Slind, an organizer with Indivisible Palo Alto Plus.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Spenuzza Series, a new initiative featuring Latin American acts.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
The collective is considered among the most important and influential hip-hop acts of all time.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
That nearby pocket of unstable air acts like fuel.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Institutional trust acts like a health multiplier for society.
—Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Black holes have been useful settings for studying quantum gravity, since the extreme gravity of a black hole acts strongly even on the quantum scale.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
The sponsor group acts as a liaison between the unincorporated community and county officials.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
New at the Jest this year is the 916 Growth Gigs side stage, which will feature a trio of acoustic sets woven between the main stage acts.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Once measured, the system acts fast.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Throughout the summer, celebrity beautician Iván Pol acts as resident facialist.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Dion will perform multiple shows per week throughout September and October at the 40,000-seat venue, which has previously hosted major acts such as Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones and Kendrick Lamar.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Though Israel technically has the death penalty on the books as a possible punishment for acts of genocide, espionage during wartime and certain terror offenses, the country hasn’t put anyone to death since Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
According to the announcement Monday, additional music acts will be added in the weeks ahead.
—Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The league has leaned heavily on international acts in recent years — Snoop Dogg headlined in 2025, while KISS, Robbie Williams, Katy Perry and The Killers have all featured in the past decade.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Loosely billed as a hometown tour, the dates will pair the Baltimore-via-Greenville trio with local support acts, including Dan Deacon and Ed Schrader’s Music Beat at that last show.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
At the No Kings Street Fest in Palo Alto along El Camino Real, more than 4,000 attendees listened to musical acts and participated in activity stations, said Michael Slind, an organizer with Indivisible Palo Alto Plus.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Spenuzza Series, a new initiative featuring Latin American acts.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
The collective is considered among the most important and influential hip-hop acts of all time.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
Gas prices could conceivably hit record levels of $5 per gallon if nobody acts to clear the bottleneck in Strait of Hormuz, De Haan said.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
That nearby pocket of unstable air acts like fuel.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Institutional trust acts like a health multiplier for society.
—Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Black holes have been useful settings for studying quantum gravity, since the extreme gravity of a black hole acts strongly even on the quantum scale.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
The sponsor group acts as a liaison between the unincorporated community and county officials.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
New at the Jest this year is the 916 Growth Gigs side stage, which will feature a trio of acoustic sets woven between the main stage acts.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Once measured, the system acts fast.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Throughout the summer, celebrity beautician Iván Pol acts as resident facialist.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts
Noun
-
These words are the first step to building long-term routines that genuinely work for all collaborators.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The vans serve about 190 students, many of whom rely on strict daily routines.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ponder the enormously popular magic-lantern shows that appeared in seventeenth-century Europe.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Austin city manager makes more money than Jones, though, with a $538,608 salary, data from the Austin American-Statesman shows.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wang said her American citizenship was made possible by the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship guarantee and by changes to laws that had restricted Asian immigration.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
With that in mind, Egbert didn’t share her colleagues’ discomfort with pre-empting local laws.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Knicks only truly made things interesting in minutes the former Brooklyn Nets star and sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer spent on the bench on Tuesday.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Upstairs at Place, things are a little more formal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hsu plays Joy, a morose daughter of two Chinese immigrants.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
When the Heat plays Herro and Powell together, Miami has been outscored by 26 points in 249 minutes this season.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The receptionist works behind a period cabinet converted into the sort of desk Philip Marlowe would happily put his feet on and Art Deco ornamentations abound, from the beautiful clocks, to the slightly sinister candlesticks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The acidic composition of white vinegar works efficiently to break down the film that can accumulate on your windows.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The prospect of winning control of the Senate, where the 2026 map favors Republicans, now seems conceivable but still unlikely.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The recent uptick in younger hires seems to be a common approach, similarly taken by Cognizant, an IT consulting firm that boasts more than 350,000 employees globally on their site, and is on an entry-level hiring spree.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Tripoli is an amphibious assault ship that functions essentially as a small aircraft carrier.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Additionally, there's a folding table that functions both as a dining space and a work desk.—
Adam Williams
March 24,
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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