DISSEMBLING Synonyms: 253 Similar and Opposite Words

dissembling 1 of 3

noun

as in deception

the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery a crafty child given to frequent dissembling to get what she wants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deceit

the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have in the end the preacher's smarmy dissembling is discovered, and he is exposed as a fraud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dissembling

2 of 3

adjective

as in lying

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Dissimilar Words

dissembling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of dissemble

as in pretending

to present a false appearance of he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in dissimulating

to take on a false or deceptive appearance children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age

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 dissembling

Noun

Such episodes now look like clumsy moments in a decade of dissembling. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Such dissembling by the people who are where the buck stops raises doubt that the Pentagon’s final report will be candid. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026 His inner self is right there and raw at the surface, leaving him incapable of dissembling, which is why Lancaster Dodd likes him so much. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025

Verb

When McKenzie asks him how much he’s contributed to the coffers of politicians, his dodging of the question is pure dissembling theater. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissembling

Noun

Nefarious actors have long been keen to fill the gap through what international law describes as coercion, deception and abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability.

— Robert P. George, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026
The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Zishan Zeng, was charged with two counts of elder exploitation and two counts of theft by deception.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

The best way Ray can think of to do so is to tail her shady husband, Dom (Bobby Cannavale) — all the way into a sordid (but still vaguely family-friendly) web of deceit, murder, blackmail and gangland drama.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
These rosy reveries gradually darken as Wilde remembers succumbing to hedonism, deceit, debt, and disgrace.

— Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceit

Verb

Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
In a news release, police said that 25-year-old Baldwin Park resident Juan Carlos Amaya contacted the teenage girl via Snapchat and began talking to her while pretending to be 17 years old.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretending

Noun

Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.

— Sue Brightman, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025

Definition of deceptiveness

Noun

Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Trump, in a Truth Social post, accused the media of hypocrisy for allegedly refusing to cover past purchases of Russian energy by the European Union.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hypocrisy

Adjective

The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.

— Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.

— Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026

Definition of mendacious

Verb

Check your insurance terms directly rather than assuming elective treatment or related complications are covered.

— Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
However, other analysts have expressed concerns about assuming that take-or-pay legal structures are iron-clad and about equating backlogs with revenue.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of assuming

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dissembles

dissembling

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“Dissembling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissembling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dissembling

noun

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