dissemble

verb

dis·​sem·​ble di-ˈsem-bəl 

dissembled; dissembling di-ˈsem-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to hide under a false appearance

dissembling the facts

2

: to put on the appearance of : simulate

She lay down and dissembled sleep.

intransitive verb

: to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense

He had dissembled about the risks involved.

dissembler

di-ˈsem-b(ə-)lər 

noun

Did you know?

We have nothing to hide: dissemble (from the Latin verb dissimulāre, meaning “to disguise the identity of”) stresses the intent to deceive others, especially about facts, feelings, or intentions. Most often found in formal or literary speech and writing, dissemble also implies that the facts, feelings, or intentions someone is attempting to conceal could land that person in hot water if discovered, as when a politician dissembles at a press conference when faced with questions about a recent scandal. Typical use notwithstanding, it’s perfectly fine to bust out dissemble in less formal contexts and conversations. Just be careful not to confuse dissemble with disassemble, which means “to take apart.”

Synonyms

• act
• affect
• assume
• bluff
• counterfeit
• fake
• feign
• pass (for)
• pretend
• profess
• put on
• sham
• simulate

Examples of dissemble in a Sentence

he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else

children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age

Recent Examples on the Web

Putin’s constant lies and dissembling undermined his credibility to international interlocutors, such as President Emmanuel Macron of France. —Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2022

Pushing back on reporters, at the time Scher often dissembled and appeared to brush aside concerns about what was clearly an increasingly out-of-control situation. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 19 July 2024

The defense of Putin’s regime has been offered by people operating as literary critics, ever disassembling and dissembling. —Timothy Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022

That same week, Altman made headlines at a Senate hearing by asking to be regulated — wowing senators who were more accustomed to tech CEOs dissembling or responding evasively to questions. —Brian Fung, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dissymbulen, dissymblen, probably reshaping of dissimulen in same sense (after resemblen "to resemble," semblance semblance, and like forms), borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French dissimuler, dissumuler "to hide under a false appearance," borrowed from Latin dissimulāre — more at dissimulate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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Kids Definition

dissemble

verb

dis·​sem·​ble dis-ˈem-bəl 

dissembled; dissembling -b(ə-)liŋ 

: to hide one's true feelings : put on a false appearance

dissembler

-b(ə-)lər 

noun