feign

/fein/

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Word: Feign

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To pretend to have a feeling, illness, or situation that is not true. When someone feigns something, they are making it seem like they are experiencing something that they are not, usually with the intent to deceive others.

Usage Instructions:

• "Feign" is often used in situations where someone is trying to hide their true feelings or to trick someone into believing something that is not real.
• It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples:

1. Basic Example: "She feigned happiness at the surprise party, but she was actually feeling sad."
2. Another Example: "He feigned sleep to avoid talking to his parents about his grades."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "feign" can be used in literary or rhetorical discussions. For instance: - "In the novel, the character feigns ignorance to manipulate the other characters."

Word Variants:

• Feigning (verb, present participle): "She is feigning illness to skip school."
• Feigns (verb, third person singular): "He feigns confidence during his presentations."

Different Meaning:

While "feign" primarily means to pretend or fake, it can also imply a strategic deception. For example, in acting, an actor may feign emotions to portray a character convincingly.

Synonyms:

• Pretend
• Fake
• Sham
• Simulate
• Dissemble

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Feigned interest": This phrase indicates pretending to be interested in something that one does not care about.
• "Feign innocence": Pretending to be innocent or unaware of something.

Summary:

To feign is to act as if you are feeling or experiencing something that is not true. It’s often used to describe situations where someone is trying to deceive others for a particular reason.

Academic

Verb

1. make a pretence of
   • She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger
   • he feigned sleep
2. make believe with the intent to deceive
   • He feigned that he was ill
   • He shammed a headache

Synonyms

• simulate
• assume
• sham
• pretend
• affect
• dissemble