1
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the feigned applause that polite people give after a bad concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
the feigned looks of innocence I got when I asked who had broken the lamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pretended
to present a false appearance of
I would never feign illness just to get out of a test
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 feigned
Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Though shrouded in feigned care for the wrongful death of an unborn child, HB 289 and HB 663 will have horrific effects on women, their families and all medical professionals working in gynecology and obstetrics.
—Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Ron Stodghill, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Sanchez's 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, was stabbed 25 times and feigned death in order to survive.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Adjective
At that exact moment, the album shifts gears, exchanging feigned authenticity for an honest search for meaning.
—Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Though shrouded in feigned care for the wrongful death of an unborn child, HB 289 and HB 663 will have horrific effects on women, their families and all medical professionals working in gynecology and obstetrics.
—Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Institutions that once at least feigned being an ally are now demonstrating the opposite.
—Ron Stodghill, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Sanchez's 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, was stabbed 25 times and feigned death in order to survive.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feigned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feigned
Adjective
-
Lewis oversaw workshops with school kids himself, traveling to schools in his free time, staging mock trials and handing out copies of legal documents, like the Constitution.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Each year, a different brother played Paddy, lying in the coffin, where he was roasted by a series of mock eulogies.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the show, shy Briar U music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and cocky team captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) begin fake-dating to try to catch the attention of Hannah’s crush.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
-
The schemes involve the use of fake court documents regarding false traffic and criminal infractions.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Samara Weaving once pretended to be her lookalike friend, Margot Robbie.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
-
Faced with one of Musk’s seemingly impossible mandates, those strong employees rarely pretended to already know the solution.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, Hernández played in just one rehab game returning from a strained groin.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Large parts of its war effort are now unmanned, the robots, drones, and remotely piloted tanks giving it a sudden, albeit fragile, edge over a lumbering and strained Russian invader.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Its double-height ceilings in the living room provide the perfect acoustics when performers use the grand piano for impromptu concerts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Mihyia Davis stroked the next pitch off Slimp’s glove in left for a double and Williams moved to third.—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Gordon assumed the role in August 2024, after serving for eight years as the head of the National Institute of Mental Health.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
5 June 2026
-
It was assumed to have been seized by the Nazis in 1938 or later.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
-
In January, Roberts pleaded guilty to making a false statement for employment and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm while being in the country illegally.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.—
Caroline Reilly,
Forbes.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feigned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feigned. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
