as in to raise hell
to behave badly
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
Disney Moana 2 Maui Magical Fishhook $20 at Target
A replica of Maui’s fishhook from the second movie is ideal for acting out scenes.
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Quincy Bulin, Parents, 22 Nov. 2024
The job gives Charles a temporary purpose, as well as an excuse to clumsily act out various vintage spy movie fantasies.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
During the Renaissance, people in Italy would act out live nativity scenes to help tell the Christmas story.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Dec. 2024
Denzel is finally able to act out his one-time fantasy of portraying Jean-Jacques Dessalines in a movie about the Haitian revolution.
—Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for act out 
Quincy Bulin, Parents, 22 Nov. 2024
The job gives Charles a temporary purpose, as well as an excuse to clumsily act out various vintage spy movie fantasies.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
During the Renaissance, people in Italy would act out live nativity scenes to help tell the Christmas story.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Dec. 2024
Denzel is finally able to act out his one-time fantasy of portraying Jean-Jacques Dessalines in a movie about the Haitian revolution.
—Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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The police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and her security detail, accusing them of disobeying orders and hindering a congressional inquiry involving her chief of staff.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
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In 2017, Trump pardoned former Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was charged with criminal contempt of court for disobeying a federal judge's order to stop racially profiling in detaining individuals suspected of being in the country illegally.Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Are there contemporary artists that really inspire you and have carried on folk?Steve Baltin, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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For now, the top leader appears determined to carry on his crusade against corruption and disloyalty.Nectar Gan, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Exactly zero of the acts up for Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, or Best Rock Album are first-time nominees.Justin Curto, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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Service animals, emotional support animals, acting up.Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
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Elphaba and Glinda, who spent the first act and film becoming friends against all odds, go their separate ways as Elphaba chooses to rebel against the Wizard and Glinda stays behind.Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024
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According to Guerrero's biography, Miller, a contrarian by nature, began rebelling early against the liberal bent of his family, hometown and high school.Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near act out
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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