feign

verb

ˈfān How to pronounce feign (audio)
Definition of feignnext
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of I would never feign illness just to get out of a test

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb feign contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of feign are affect, assume, counterfeit, pretend, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When can affect be used instead of feign?

The meanings of affect and feign largely overlap; however, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

When is assume a more appropriate choice than feign?

In some situations, the words assume and feign are roughly equivalent. However, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

When could counterfeit be used to replace feign?

The words counterfeit and feign can be used in similar contexts, but counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

When might pretend be a better fit than feign?

The synonyms pretend and feign are sometimes interchangeable, but pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

When is it sensible to use sham instead of feign?

Although the words sham and feign have much in common, sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When would simulate be a good substitute for feign?

While the synonyms simulate and feign are close in meaning, simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

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 feign Sophia Bush and her partner Ashlyn Harris happily obliged a photographer by climbing in and feigning pillow talk with their espresso martinis. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025 Online, jokey provocations feigned a detachment from real life. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025 Yun feigns a movement towards the ball on his right foot and then steps onto his left, allowing the ball to run across his path and wrong-footing his marker. —Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025 Neither player feigned even the slightest effort in the shooting portions of the event, halfheartedly heaving the balls at the rim at breakneck speed. —Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for feign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feign
  1. pretend
  2. simulate
  3. assume
Verb
  • Read: America is done pretending about meat All of this social-media attention has been translating into people’s actual eating habits, Victoria Fitzgerald, who oversees Whole Foods Market’s meat merchandising, told me.
    — Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The crowd cheered, but Rema was clearly lip-synching and not trying hard to pretend otherwise, pulling the mic away from his mouth while the recording of his voice continued.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of pretend
Verb
  • At the same time, AI tools can simulate these attacks so security teams can identify and address organizational vulnerabilities before an actual attack takes place.
    — David Henkin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In early February, New Shepard successfully simulated the moon's low gravity on board its capsule during a brief flight.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of simulate
Verb
  • Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile, in a tentative ruling issued on Thursday, denied CBS’ bid for a court order that would’ve temporarily blocked Sony’s efforts from assuming distribution.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • And there’s usually some wiggle room, a premium being paid to reap future opportunities or a discount to assume some risk.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of assume

Browse Nearby Words

feet of clay
feign
feigned
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Feign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feign. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on feign

Nglish: Translation of feign for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

'Blue Moon,' 'Wolf Moon,' and Other Moons to Look for Throughout the Year
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All