dissemble
to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one's incompetence in business.
to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.
to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.
Origin of dissemble
1Other words for dissemble
Other words from dissemble
- dis·sem·bler, noun
- dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
- un·dis·sem·bled, adjective
- un·dis·sem·bling, adjective
- un·dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
- well-dis·sem·bled, adjective
Words that may be confused with dissemble
- disassemble, dissemble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dissemble in a sentence
The decision today put a definitive end to such dissembling.
Consolation for Conservatives: Upsides From the Health Care Ruling | Michael Medved | June 28, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTHe, meanwhile, grew tired of the lying, the dissembling, which she did constantly.
But the majority of the time is spent dissembling the system that has enabled the addict to finance and feed their affliction.
Both agencies, especially the CIA, had intramural interests for dissembling and hiding the true facts.
The tone is too earnest to permit the supposition that Edward was dissembling knowledge of the facts.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
Deane tried to laugh but he was not good at dissembling and he was finding it hard to conceal his annoyance at the interruption.
Fidelity | Susan GlaspellHe was naturally a connoisseur in such matters, and knew well and easily the truth or dissembling in them.
Six Women | Victoria CrossDissembling then was Gudrun, against her heart she could speak, made herself gay appear, with two shields she played.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson | Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre SturlesonSleep well, Egyptian, and pray to the gods to give you a more equal power of dissembling your feelings.
An Egyptian Princess, Complete | Georg Ebers
British Dictionary definitions for dissemble
/ (dɪˈsɛmbəl) /
to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence
(tr) to pretend; simulate
obsolete to ignore
Origin of dissemble
1Derived forms of dissemble
- dissemblance, noun
- dissembler, noun
- dissembling, noun, adjective
- dissemblingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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