1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in seems
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in functions
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
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
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 acts
Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Revealingly, the order about cartels and gangs makes reference to the Alien Enemies Act, a remnant of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
If the Entrant commits any of the Negative Acts, the Giveaway Entities’ shall have the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify such participating Entrant, without any further obligation or liability to the Entrant.
—USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
During the height of the pandemic, Southern Roots demonstrated their dedication to giving back by donating over 1,000 treats to essential workers at Baptist Hospital through their Random Acts of Kindness initiative.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 22 Jan. 2025
Human Acts affectingly chronicled the legacies of Gwangju by providing us with multiple views on the event and its aftermath.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
As a result, many people of modest means don’t even consider the notion of owning a home, said Ms. Kemp, vice president of programs at Acts Housing, a nonprofit group that provides financial coaching and other services to help renters become homeowners.
—Ann Carrns, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
For example, Section 241 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code—part of the Ku Klux Klan Acts—criminalizes conspiracies to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate individuals exercising constitutional or federal rights.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Other shows of the NFL Podcast Network include NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, The Insiders, NFL Players: Second Acts, and many more.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025
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
Noun
This was exemplified by one of the first Acts of the new Congress, the Coinage Act of 1792.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Revealingly, the order about cartels and gangs makes reference to the Alien Enemies Act, a remnant of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
If the Entrant commits any of the Negative Acts, the Giveaway Entities’ shall have the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify such participating Entrant, without any further obligation or liability to the Entrant.
—USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
During the height of the pandemic, Southern Roots demonstrated their dedication to giving back by donating over 1,000 treats to essential workers at Baptist Hospital through their Random Acts of Kindness initiative.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 22 Jan. 2025
Human Acts affectingly chronicled the legacies of Gwangju by providing us with multiple views on the event and its aftermath.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
As a result, many people of modest means don’t even consider the notion of owning a home, said Ms. Kemp, vice president of programs at Acts Housing, a nonprofit group that provides financial coaching and other services to help renters become homeowners.
—Ann Carrns, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
For example, Section 241 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code—part of the Ku Klux Klan Acts—criminalizes conspiracies to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate individuals exercising constitutional or federal rights.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Other shows of the NFL Podcast Network include NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, The Insiders, NFL Players: Second Acts, and many more.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 Jan. 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
Verb
-
Infused with cica, green tea, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E to soothe and protect the skin barrier, the formula works for people of all skin types.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
30 Nov. 2024
-
This handheld vacuum has 69,000 five-star ratings, works on carpet, hardwood, and tile floors, and weighs less than 3 pounds.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
30 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Despite being a shameless queue jumper who seems to slide through ski lift crowds like water, she's clearly respected and adored by countless people across the valleys.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Given Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals, the decision to sell to a potential competition rival seems unlikely.—
Jessy Parker Humphreys,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Pausing as a Leadership Practice Leaders can incorporate pauses into their routines to unlock their full potential.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Sustainability And Comfort Trends Josh Christian, CEO of the Home Technology Association, anticipates significant advances in climate control by the technology learning our preferences and daily routines over time.—
Jamie Gold,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Idaho Power customers can expect their bills to go up this month.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Jan. 2025
-
In the event that a borrower has their student loans canceled, a sinking fund can be a fallback option for paying any resulting tax bills.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The plaintiffs seek damages, restitution, and penalties, arguing that the defendants' actions resulted in fraud and unjust enrichment.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
-
At the same time, record global temperatures and California’s aggressive regulatory actions served as stark reminders of the urgency of balancing energy growth with sustainability.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
First, there are those who lip-sync – like Kili Paul, a Tanzanian social media star who performs Bollywood and other movie hits against the backdrop of his rural community — a mix of greenery and low-slung buildings.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Blue Ivy performs alongside her mom Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter was alongside her mom during the big halftime show.—
Caché McClay,
The Enquirer,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Nordstrom, founded in 1901 as a shoe retailer, operates 93 Nordstrom department stores, about 300 Rack off-price stores, and six Nordstrom Locals, which operate as service hubs.—
David Moin,
WWD,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Liverpool operates across Mexico with 310 stores under the Liverpool and Suburbia banners, 119 specialized boutiques, as well as 29 shopping centers.—
David Moin,
WWD,
24 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near acts
Cite this Entry
“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share