Definition

1. Verb (transitive and intransitive):
   • To conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs under a false pretense: To behave in a way that hides one's genuine thoughts or character.
   • To put on a false appearance; to feign: To pretend or simulate a feeling, condition, or state that is not genuine.
   • (Archaic) To ignore or disregard something while pretending not to notice it.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (transitive): He was able to dissemble his anger with a calm smile. (He concealed his true feeling of anger.) She dissembled enthusiasm for the project she secretly opposed. (She pretended to have enthusiasm.)

• Verb (intransitive): When questioned, he chose to dissemble rather than tell the truth. (He chose to hide his true motives.) It is not in her nature to dissemble; she is always direct. (Pretending is not her natural behavior.)

Advanced Usage

• "to dissemble one's intentions": to hide one's true plans or goals. The spy had to dissemble his intentions to gain their trust.

• "to dissemble ignorance": to pretend not to know something. He dissembled ignorance of the rules to avoid punishment.

Variants and Related Words

• Dissembler (noun): A person who dissembles; a hypocrite. He was revealed to be a dissembler who said one thing and did another.

• Dissemblance (noun, rare): The act or an instance of dissembling; dissimulation. Her dissemblance was so convincing that no one suspected her.

Synonyms

• Feign: To pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
• Simulate: To imitate the appearance or character of.
• Pretend: To behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
• Disguise: To give a different appearance to in order to conceal identity.
• Conceal: To keep from sight; to hide.

Antonyms

• Reveal: To make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others.
• Disclose: To make secret or new information known.
• Unmask: To expose the true character of someone or something.

Related Phrases and Usage Notes

• Dissemble often implies a deliberate and morally questionable act of deception regarding one's own feelings or character, more so than simply "pretending" in a playful context. It carries a connotation of hypocrisy.
• The word is more formal and less common in everyday speech than synonyms like "pretend" or "fake."

Verb

1. behave unnaturally or affectedly
   • She's just acting
2. hide under a false appearance
   • He masked his disappointment
3. make believe with the intent to deceive
   • He feigned that he was ill
   • He shammed a headache