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Definition of playacting

playacting

/ˈpleɪˌæk.tɪŋ/
play · act · ing
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playacting Lexical Profile

playacting Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Hypocritical, insincere, or overly dramatic behavior adopted for effect; the act of pretending or feigning an emotion or attitude.

Example

"Everyone in the meeting saw right through his sudden outburst of sympathy and recognized it as mere playacting."

2

The performance of dramatic roles on stage or in theatrical productions, especially when viewed as amateurish or informal.

Example

"The children spent the rainy afternoon engaged in imaginative playacting with old costumes from the attic."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

playability
playable
playact
playacting
playback
playbill
playbook

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Playacting. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/playacting
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