feigning
Putting on act
Feigning is pretending or putting on a false appearance.
Someone feigning sleep lies still with eyes closed while actually awake.
You might feign interest in a boring story or feign ignorance to avoid responsibility.
The word implies deliberate deception: She was feigning enthusiasm for the gift.
Unlike genuine pretending in play, feigning typically involves misleading others.
Deceptive outward show
- simulationImitation of real processes
- playactingInsincere dramatic performance
- performanceCarrying out a task
- portrayalDepiction of someone
impersonation · theatrics · dramatics · pantomime · mime · charade · role-playing · staging
Fraudulent imitation
- fakeryDeliberate deception or pretense
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
subterfuge · trickery · guile · chicanery · imposture · fabrication · falsification · forgery
Pretense of virtue
- disingenuousnessPretended ignorance or naivety
- falsenessAbsence of truth
- hollownessState of being empty inside
- two-facednessDeceitful pretense of friendship
dishonesty · untruthfulness · mendacity · deceitfulness · double-dealing · crocodile tears · lip service · empty words
Identity-concealing alteration
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- maskFace-worn concealment
- veilFabric that obscures
- cloakSleeveless outer wrap
cover · facade · front · smokescreen · incognito · alias · guise · shroud
Fabricating symptoms for gain
- shammingFalsely pretending
- playing possumFaking death defensively
- hypochondriaExcessive illness worry
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
dodge · avoidance · evasion · goldbricking · shirking · skiving
Pretending not to understand
- dissemblingConcealing true motives
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
obfuscation · equivocation · prevarication · hedging · sidestepping · denial · bluffing · cluelessness
pretense
Deceptive outward show
- simulationImitation of real processes
- playactingInsincere dramatic performance
- performanceCarrying out a task
portrayal · impersonation · theatrics · dramatics · pantomime · mime · charade · role-playing · staging · emoting
sham
Fraudulent imitation
- fakeryDeliberate deception or pretense
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
duplicity · subterfuge · trickery · guile · chicanery · imposture · fabrication · falsification · forgery · phony
hypocrisy
Pretense of virtue
- disingenuousnessPretended ignorance or naivety
- falsenessAbsence of truth
- hollownessState of being empty inside
two-facedness · dishonesty · untruthfulness · mendacity · deceitfulness · double-dealing · crocodile tears · lip service · empty words · sanctimony
disguise
Identity-concealing alteration
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- maskFace-worn concealment
- veilFabric that obscures
cloak · cover · facade · front · smokescreen · incognito · alias · guise · shroud · concealment
malingering
Fabricating symptoms for gain
- shammingFalsely pretending
- playing possumFaking death defensively
- hypochondriaExcessive illness worry
excuse · dodge · avoidance · evasion · goldbricking · shirking · skiving
playing dumb
Pretending not to understand
- dissemblingConcealing true motives
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- deflectionChange in trajectory
stonewalling · obfuscation · equivocation · prevarication · hedging · sidestepping · denial · bluffing · cluelessness
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- insincerityinsincerity, phoniness, fakeness, falseness, pretense
- pretendingpretend, pretending, fake, make-believe, simulate
- mind gamesmind game, head game, head games, mind games, intimidation
- putting ondonning, wearing, dressing, trying on, faking
- manipulationgaslighting, guilt tripping, blame-shifting, brainwashing, guilt trip
feigningtruth-telling
Communicating only facts
being honest · truth · telling the truth · candor · transparency
feigninggenuineness
Quality of being real
authenticity · heartfelt · unaffected · uncontrived · artless
- feigning injuryPretending to be hurt
fiction, feign, counterfeit, effigy, figment, feigned, fictitious, feigns, feigner