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Showing results for "feigning"
  • present participle of feign.
Synonyms

feigning

American  
[fay-ning] / feɪ nɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of pretending or putting on a show in order to deceive.

    The feigning of hurt feelings is just a manipulative ploy she uses.


adjective

  1. putting on a show in order to deceive; pretending.

    “It hurts,” moaned the feigning child on the floor, gripping her ankle in a convincing display of pain.

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of feigning

First recorded in 1350–1400; feign ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun; feign ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective


Vocabulary lists containing feigning

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In some cases, bureaucrats resorted to ostentatious gestures and outright fraud, feigning adherence to unrealistic targets and masking underperformance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

Spaeny: It’s what every actor is thinking except they’re feigning ...

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

However, the “Hannah Montana” star did not end her mockery there—going on to accuse Cooper of feigning innocence about the proximity of their properties.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026

Crisis actor is a derogatory label used by conspiracy theorists to allege that someone is deceiving the public -- feigning injuries or death -- while posing as a victim of a tragic event.

From Barron's ● Dec. 16, 2025

She is feigning calm, like the rest of us.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

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