as in actor
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show)
a brawling actor who is in danger of becoming better known as a thug than as a thesp
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thesp
Mincan found his ideal leads in German-Romanian actor Niko Becker and Philippine thesp Soliman Cruz (pictured).
—
Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Nov. 2022
That fall, the Toronto playwright and performer got cast in a new play and hit it off with fellow thesp Fab Filippo, also a performer who created his own work.
—Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Anne Hathaway, a skilled thesp, is no match for Huston as the villainous lead.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Egons Dombrovskis, one of the film’s weak acting links), who beats his meek wife Smaida (Polish thesp Agata Buzek, underused here).
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 6 Dec. 2021
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Nov. 2022
That fall, the Toronto playwright and performer got cast in a new play and hit it off with fellow thesp Fab Filippo, also a performer who created his own work.
—Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022
Anne Hathaway, a skilled thesp, is no match for Huston as the villainous lead.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Hopefully, the thesp will deliver a performance that moves him up a peg or two in the in-the-works sequel.
—Joe Tobal, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2022
Egons Dombrovskis, one of the film’s weak acting links), who beats his meek wife Smaida (Polish thesp Agata Buzek, underused here).
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 6 Dec. 2021
Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer.
—Cynthia Littleton, chicagotribune.com, 19 Dec. 2017
Two of these, a jazz pianist named Seb (Ryan Gosling) and a thesp (as the trades would say) named Mia (Emma Stone), meet cute in a gigantic traffic jam that doubles as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
—A. O. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thesp
Noun
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His maternal great-grandmother survived the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire during World War I. In April, the actor traveled to Washington to give a speech for the Armenian Assembly of America.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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At a time when Lilo wants nothing more than a best friend, a fugitive alien named Stitch (voiced again by original Disney actor Chris Sanders) escapes his handlers and crash-lands on Earth.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
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He is currently romantically linked to actress Elizabeth Hurley, who seemingly debuted the pair's relationship in an April 20 joint post on Instagram for Easter.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
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Well, the Little Mermaid actress, 25, tells PEOPLE that since welcoming her son, Halo, now 1, she's learned to embrace a bolder side of her personal style.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thesp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thesp. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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