to dissemble

Examples

• All

• Would he continue to be open, or would he start to dissemble?

  Fiction book (1993)

• She tried to dissemble her feelings during the meeting to avoid confrontation.

• But I will not dissemble with you.

  Walker (1987)

• I would dissemble with my nature where my fortune and my friends at stake required I should do so in honor.

  Coriolanus (2011)

• Tom did not feel he could dissemble or hide from such a thing.

  Fiction book (2001)

• When you met him, you told him what he wished to know, and you did not dissemble.

  Fiction book (1991)

• When my mother phones, I dissemble; otherwise she'll worry.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Why do you dissemble and deceive?

  My Favorite Wife (1940)

• But some of the board members feel he might be dissembling.

  Brain Dead (1990)

• Despite her attempts to dissemble through polite conversation, her actions reveal her true feelings all too clearly.

  Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

P

to pretend

vsto dissemble

∞ 2.3

To act as if something is true when it is not

is specifically about hiding inner motives or feelings by pretending

D

to deceive

vsto dissemble

229 3.9

To make someone believe something that is not true to get an advantage

is narrower, concentrating on concealing inner motives rather than broad lying

M

to mask

vsto dissemble

89 3.7

To cover part of something to hide or protect it

does this specifically for inner feelings or intentions through acting

D

to delude

vsto dissemble

73 6.3

Make someone believe something that is not true

focuses on hiding one's own feelings rather than making others believe false facts

C

to cloak

vsto dissemble

70 5.1

To cover something so it is hard to see or understand

applies this cover specifically to personal feelings or motives

F

to feign

vsto dissemble

32 7.2

Pretend to feel something, like surprise or interest, to trick other people

hides real motives or feelings by acting as if different

P

to pull the wool over someone's eyes

vsto dissemble

• Informal

8 8.2

To trick someone by hiding the truth

hides personal feelings or motives rather than broadly tricking someone

A

to affect

vsto dissemble

6 8.1

To pretend to have a feeling or quality to deceive others

focuses on hiding motives by adopting a false outward behaviour

P

to play false

vsto dissemble

2 8.1

To trick someone who trusts you by hiding your real plans to get something for yourself

hides feelings or motives but not always to gain advantage

D

to dissimulate

vsto dissemble

1 9.5

To hide your true feelings or plans with a false expression

hides inner motives specifically by putting on a false appearance

S

to sham

vsto dissemble

1 6.4

To pretend to be or feel something to trick people

hides inner motives or beliefs rather than faking an external state

U

under false colors

vsto dissemble

• US

1 9.1

Pretending to be someone else to trick people

focuses on hiding personal motives instead of adopting a false identity

S

to sail under false colors

vsto dissemble

• Informal

1 8.4

To pretend to be someone else to trick people

hides inner feelings or motives rather than pretending a different identity

Antonyms

R

to reveal

7 7.4

Make hidden truth known by a god or spirit

How Concealing

to deceive

229 3.9

to dissemble

8 9.1

to feign

32 7.2

to withhold

204 5.1

mask

53 5.9

to hide

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology