feigning

[ fey-ning ]

/ feɪ nɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: feigning / feignings on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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.

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Origin of feigning

feign + -ing¹ for the noun; feign + -ing² for the adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM feigning

feign·ing·ly, adverbun·feign·ing, adjectiveun·feign·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby feigning

feh, Fehling's solution, FEI, feign, feigned, feigning, feijoa, feijoada, Feininger, feinschmecker, feint

How to use feigning in a sentence

Ruth catches her husband gazing at a photograph of his first wife, Elvira, and feigns indifference.
The Ghost of Noël Coward Is Nowhere to Be Found in the Dull Blithe Spirit|Stephanie Zacharek|February 19, 2021|Time
Posing as an IT staffer to get access to the corrupt police commissioner who investigated his father’s case, Assane feigns offense when his credentials are questioned.
‘Lupin’ is a thrilling heist series, but it goes deeper than that|Bethonie Butler|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
I bit my lip and feigned a smile, donned my heavy jacket, and re-strategized the entire week.
Nature Is in Charge at Glacier National Park|Emily Pennington|December 18, 2020|Outside Online
They already know the answer, but they know by feigning ignorance they can create all this debate about it.
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire|William O’Connor|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The whole point of being a pageant queen is to trot around in your bikini to be ogled at while feigning sexual naiveté.
Miss America Hypocrisy: The Vanessa Williams Nude Photo Shaming|Amanda Marcotte|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was a short time after Obama released his birth certificate and when Trump was feigning a run for president.
Obama Will Weaponize Comedy at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner|Dean Obeidallah|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They sense you tensing up at peculiar moments, acting skittish, laughing a little too hard, over-feigning outrage or surprise.
Michael Sam Is Not a ‘Distraction’|Dave Cullen|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“They just said they would be in touch,” I replied, feigning disinterest.
The Model Diaries: The Rush of Rejection in Paris|Anonymous|December 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Whether Madame Probasco was feigning or not, the outstanding fact was that the next experiments varied greatly in effectiveness.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson
While feigning to talk at their ease as they rode along, the nerves of both of our two friends were strung to the uttermost.
The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley|Bertram Mitford
Almost immediately he encountered the keeper of the prison, gesticulating and feigning a violent anger.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar|Maurice Leblanc
Invite him to share it, but take none yourself, feigning sudden illness.
Under the Rose|Frederic Stewart Isham
One of the weapons of her armoury was the feigning of anger, and few could stand upright before her wrath.
The Strand Magazine, Volume XXVII, January 1904, No. 157|Various