ACTS Synonyms: 215 Similar and Opposite Words

acts 1 of 2

noun

plural of act

as in numbers

a performance regularly presented by an individual or group in his nightclub act he impersonates a veritable galaxy of movie stars

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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

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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

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higher laws

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

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acts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of act

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

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as in works

to produce a desired effect the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

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as in seems

to give the impression of being always acting helpless, just to get attention

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as in functions

to have a certain purpose the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

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as in pretends

to present a false appearance of if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it

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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

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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 acts

Noun

Part of the disconnect is the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts, which Republicans view as preventing a tax hike rather than a reduction in revenue. —

Brett Rowland | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Feb. 2025 Coinciding with the national celebration, Rollins College will celebrate the 5th annual Thaddeus and Polly Seymour Acts of Kindness Day to honor this dynamic husband-and-wife team who, for decades, were known for their community service to causes like Winter Park Library and Habitat for Humanity. —

Grant H. Cornwell, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2025 The movie will be based on the book The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts, written by Farley's brother Tom with Tanner Colby. —

Gillian Telling, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025 The plaintiffs are asking for a declaratory judgment that American Airlines’ supplier diversity program violates the federal laws regulating contracts and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of color as spelled out in the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1964 respectively. —

Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2025 There are many ways to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week, from big gestures like donating blood to simpler acts like paying for a stranger’s coffee or walking a friend’s dog. —

Kendall Malinchock, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025 Lyttleton’s task involved debunking three passages in the book of Acts, a book recounting the earliest history of Christ’s followers. —

Dan Miller, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 Unlike the other Alien and Sedition Acts, which expired or were repealed, the Alien Enemies Act remains in effect today, though it has been amended over time. —

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025 The Continental Congress appealed to the province of Quebec to send delegates south to join the American colonies in protesting against the British Parliament’s passage of the Coercive Acts. —

Lawrence B.a. Hatter / Made By History, TIME, 4 Feb. 2025

Verb

The worst-case scenario is that AI systems become scary powerful but no warning shots are fired (or heeded) before a system permanently escapes human control and acts decisively against us. —

Garrison Lovely, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025 The Internal Revenue Service acts as the nation’s steward for tax collection and enforcement. —

Gerald Scorse, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2025 The music video is great, too, channelling throwback country acts like Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, or Tammy Wynette and George Jones. —

Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024 However, some charge cards may offer an optional pay-over-time feature that acts similarly to carrying a balance, which would come with interest. —

Ryley Amond, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024 This tool acts as a diagnostic framework to identify and address the constraints—both tangible and intangible—that may be holding the family business back. —

Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 Your boss’s emotion acts like Wi-Fi, and your boss like the modem, casting their emotion onto you and your team. —

Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 The first set of turbines acts as a shock absorber, protecting the delicate movement components from external impacts. —

Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 This acts as extra security for those accounts. —

Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts

Noun

But subtle little things — developments unlikely to make headlines – can also be big winners.

— Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Dec. 2024
The challenge has always been to figure out how to personalize things without spending inordinate amounts of time and money mapping out every possible path a student might take.

— Ray Ravaglia, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024