as in to raise hell
to behave badly
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
Lee Byung-hun was tasked to act out much of this subtly as In-ho (who watched Gi-hun from behind a mask in Season 1) studies Gi-hun through the various games while forming a bond with him and not letting his true thoughts out.
—
Matt Minton, Variety, 27 Dec. 2024
Signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman would change the narrative, but require them to act out of character and block a younger player, Jace Jung.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Those concerns faded upon watching the murderer act out in court.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
Marvel War Machine Mech Armor This 154-piece Marvel War Machine Mech Armor action figure comes with three stud shooters, so builders ages 6 and up can act out scenes from the saga.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for act out 
Matt Minton, Variety, 27 Dec. 2024
Signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman would change the narrative, but require them to act out of character and block a younger player, Jace Jung.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Those concerns faded upon watching the murderer act out in court.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
Marvel War Machine Mech Armor This 154-piece Marvel War Machine Mech Armor action figure comes with three stud shooters, so builders ages 6 and up can act out scenes from the saga.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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Philippine police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and her security staff for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders in an altercation in Congress over the brief detention of her chief of staff, who was accused of hampering the congressional inquiry.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Dec. 2024
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Also not computing: Where the hell does Ben get off disobeying Chief Altman’s orders?—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Based on that data training, modern-era AI does a relatively remarkable job of mimicking how humans interact and can carry on conversations.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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Advertisement Basketball and being a Bulldog are in the blood for Lewis, whose mom Melissa played at Buena and now works in the College and Career Center at her alma mater, getting to watch her daughter carry on the program’s winning tradition.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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All that lightweight foam underfoot can help keep your arches from acting up when your mileage starts to climb on long-distance runs.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
SELF,
27 Nov. 2024
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Urban Meyer is getting increasingly frustrated with him and other players acting up, to the point that the stress and increasingly long work hours are beginning to really affect his physical health.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Some kids, growing up, want to rebel and follow a different path from their parents.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, break-off factions also started to rebel, the main one being the Banished, led by a Jiralhanae stalker named Atriox.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
29 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near act out
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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