Definition

1. Verb:
   • To conceal or disguise one's true feelings, thoughts, or intentions by presenting a false appearance.
   • To behave hypocritically by feigning qualities or emotions one does not genuinely possess.

Usage

The verb "dissimulate" describes the deliberate act of hiding one's genuine inner state. It is typically used in contexts involving deception, pretense, or social situations where true emotions are masked. It is a formal word.

Examples

• Verb:
  • She was able to dissimulate her disappointment and congratulate the winner with a smile.
  • Politicians often learn to dissimulate their true opinions during public debates.
  • He could not dissimulate his joy when he received the good news; his face lit up immediately.

Advanced Usage

• "to dissimulate one's motives": to hide the real reasons behind one's actions.

  • The spy had to dissimulate his motives to gain the trust of the enemy agents.

• "to dissimulate fear": to pretend not to be afraid.

  • Despite the danger, the leader dissimulated his fear to keep the group calm.

Variants and Related Words

• Dissimulation (n): The act or an instance of dissimulating; concealment of one's true feelings by pretense.

  • His friendly manner was mere dissimulation to hide his competitive nature.

• Dissimulator (n): A person who dissimulates.

  • He was a skilled dissimulator, making it hard to know what he really thought.

Synonyms

• Feign: To pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
• Pretend: To behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
• Conceal: To keep (something) secret; to prevent from being known or noticed.
• Disguise: To give (someone or oneself) a different appearance to conceal identity or true feelings.

Antonyms

• Reveal: To make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others.
• Disclose: To make (secret or new information) known.
• Show: To allow or cause (something) to be visible.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "To wear a mask": To hide one's true character or feelings. (This is a conceptual idiom related to the idea of dissimulation.)
  • In the corporate world, he felt he had to wear a mask and dissimulate his dissatisfaction.

Verb

1. hide (feelings) from other people