dissemble

American  

[dih-sem-buhl] / dɪˈsɛm bəl /

verb (used with object)

dissembled, dissembling

1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of.

   to dissemble one's incompetence in business.

   Synonyms:

   dissimulate , disguise , camouflage , hide , mask

2. to put on the appearance of; feign.

   to dissemble innocence.

3. Obsolete.  to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

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verb (used without object)

dissembled, dissembling

1. to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

dissemble British  

/ dɪˈsɛmbəl /

verb

1. to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence

2. (tr) to pretend; simulate

3. obsolete  to ignore

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Other Word Forms

• dissemblance noun
• dissembler noun
• dissembling noun
• dissemblingly adverb
• undissembled adjective
• undissembling adjective
• undissemblingly adverb
• well-dissembled adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissemble

First recorded in 1490–1500; late Middle English dissemile, dissimill, alteration (by association with obsolete semblen, sembel “to bear a resemblance, appear to be”) of Middle English dissimulen “to assume a false appearance, be insincere,” from Old French dessembler, dissembler “to be unlike,” from Latin dissimulāre “to conceal the identity of, disguise”; dis- ¹, resemble, simulate

Example Sentences

But most of us had come to expect our leaders to duck, deal and dissemble until it would be too late.

From The Wall Street Journal

They dissemble and they stonewall the press, and they do every time.

From Salon

Certainly much more so than Trump, who lies and dissembles every waking moment of the day.

From Salon

Davis dissembled over the City Council’s passing of an ordinance making public drug use a gross misdemeanor, said Galanda.

From Seattle Times

Hearts dissemble, jealousies can spring up out of nowhere and erotic desire leads everyone astray.

From Los Angeles Times