Antonyms for act
æktact

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. actnoun

   A product of a legislative body, a statute.

   He's acting strangely - I think there's something wrong with him.

   Synonyms:
   statute

2. actnoun

   To have an effect (on).

   Synonyms:
   deed

3. actnoun

   A display of behaviour.

   Synonyms:
   pretense

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. actnoun

   An act is strictly and originally something accomplished by an exercise of power, in which sense it is synonymous with deed or effect. Action is a doing. Act is therefore single, individual, momentary; action a complex of acts, or a process, state, or habit of exerting power. We say a virtuous act, but rather a virtuous course of action. We speak of the action of an acid upon a metal, not of its act. Act is used, also, for the simple exertion of power; as, an act of will. In this sense an act does not necessarily imply an external effect, while an action does. Morally, the act of murder is in the determination to kill; legally, the act is not complete without the striking of the fatal blow. Act and deed are both used for the thing done, but act refers to the power put forth, deed to the result accomplished; as, a voluntary act, a bad deed. In connection with other words act is more usually qualified by the use of another noun, action by an adjective preceding; we may say a kind act, though oftener an act of kindness, but only a kind action, not an action of kindness. As between act and deed, deed is commonly used of great, notable, and impressive acts, as are achievement, exploit, and feat.

   Festus: We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths.

   Bailey Festus, A Country Town, sc. 7.

   A feat exhibits strength, skill, personal power, whether mental or physical, especially the latter; as, a feat of arms, a feat of memory. An exploit is a conspicuous or glorious deed, involving valor or heroism, usually combined with strength, skill, loftiness of thought, and readiness of resource; an achievement is the doing of something great and noteworthy; an exploit is brilliant, but its effect may be transient; an achievement is solid, and its effect enduring. Act and action are both in contrast to all that is merely passive and receptive. The intensest action is easier than passive endurance.

   Antonyms:
   cessation, deliberation, endurance, immobility, inaction, inactivity, inertia, passion (In philosophic sense), quiescence, quiet, repose, rest, suffering, suspension

   Synonyms:
   accomplishment, achievement, action, consummation, deed, doing, effect, execution, exercise, exertion, exploit, feat, motion, movement, operation, performance, proceeding, transaction, work

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. actnoun

   Antonyms:
   inaction, rest, repose, cessation, suspension, quiet, immobility, inertia, quiescence

   Synonyms:
   deed, performance, action, movement, proceeding, exercise, operation, play

Matched Categories

1. • Be
   • Dramatic Composition
   • Law
   • Legal Document
   • Perform
   • Performing Arts
   • Re-create
   • Serve
   • Succeed
   • Theater

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. act, enactmentnoun

   a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

   Antonyms:
   forbear, refrain

   Synonyms:
   characterization, bit, deed, personation, human action, number, human activity, portrayal, enactment, turn, passage, routine

2. act, deed, human action, human activitynoun

   something that people do or cause to happen

   Antonyms:
   refrain, forbear

   Synonyms:
   deed of conveyance, bit, deed, title, human action, number, human activity, enactment, turn, routine

3. actnoun

   a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet

   Antonyms:
   forbear, refrain

   Synonyms:
   bit, deed, human action, number, human activity, enactment, turn, routine

4. act, routine, number, turn, bitnoun

   a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program

   "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did"

   Antonyms:
   refrain, forbear

   Synonyms:
   turn, figure, routine, morsel, spot, piece, twist, turning, procedure, function, bit, flake, second, snatch, bend, subroutine, modus operandi, crook, turn of events, round, deed, mo, subprogram, tour, fleck, chip, go, telephone number, play, identification number, number, minute, phone number, spell, numeral, scrap, moment, human activity, good turn, bout, enactment, bite, issue, human action

5. actverb

   a manifestation of insincerity

   "he put on quite an act for her benefit"

   Antonyms:
   refrain, forbear

   Synonyms:
   bit, deed, human action, number, human activity, enactment, turn, routine

6. act, moveverb

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

   "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"

   Antonyms:
   forbear, refrain

   Synonyms:
   pretend, be active, locomote, impress, actuate, play, represent, strike, dissemble, prompt, move, propel, work, motivate, roleplay, displace, playact, affect, run, proceed, go, act as, incite, travel, behave, do, make a motion

7. act, behave, doverb

   behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

   "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"

   Antonyms:
   forbear, refrain

   Synonyms:
   perform, playact, dissemble, comport, move, behave, get along, carry, suffice, fare, answer, deport, make, roleplay, arrange, coif, act as, execute, manage, cause, work, do, coiffure, play, represent, make out, practice, acquit, conduct, exercise, pretend, come, coiffe, serve, set, practise, dress, bear

8. act, play, representverb

   play a role or part

   "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"

   Antonyms:
   forbear, refrain

   Synonyms:
   take on, fiddle, dissemble, interpret, bet, spiel, bring, make up, behave, run, symbolize, trifle, play, diddle, meet, lay out, move, roleplay, dally, typify, be, act as, toy, encounter, stand for, playact, flirt, do, make for, wager, represent, stage, exemplify, recreate, pretend, present, comprise, symbolise, work, correspond, constitute, map, wreak, defend

9. actverb

   discharge one's duties

   "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?"

   Antonyms:
   forbear, refrain

   Synonyms:
   play, move, behave, roleplay, pretend, dissemble, do, playact, work, act as, represent

10. act, play, act asverb

    pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

    "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

    Antonyms:
    forbear, refrain

    Synonyms:
    pretend, make for, flirt, play, represent, dissemble, dally, recreate, wager, move, wreak, take on, work, toy, roleplay, playact, bet, run, fiddle, spiel, diddle, meet, act as, bring, encounter, trifle, behave, do

11. actverb

    be suitable for theatrical performance

    "This scene acts well"

    Antonyms:
    refrain, forbear

    Synonyms:
    play, move, behave, roleplay, pretend, dissemble, do, playact, work, act as, represent

12. work, actverb

    have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected

    "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water"

    Antonyms:
    forbear, refrain

    Synonyms:
    knead, turn, operate, dissemble, shape, bring, move, behave, work out, run, function, put to work, forge, lick, solve, make, roleplay, figure out, form, pretend, mould, sour, playact, work, do, exploit, go, play, represent, do work, make for, mold, puzzle out, act upon, process, crop, exercise, act as, ferment, influence, work on, wreak, cultivate

13. actverb

    be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure

    Antonyms:
    refrain, forbear

    Synonyms:
    play, move, behave, roleplay, pretend, dissemble, do, playact, work, act as, represent

14. dissemble, pretend, actverb

    behave unnaturally or affectedly

    "She's just acting"

    Antonyms:
    forbear, refrain

    Synonyms:
    pretend, dissemble, make believe, play, represent, mask, move, work, cloak, venture, roleplay, playact, affect, hazard, feign, do, sham, guess, profess, behave, make, act as

15. act, play, roleplay, playactverb

    perform on a stage or theater

    "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

    Antonyms:
    refrain, forbear

    Synonyms:
    pretend, make for, flirt, play, represent, dissemble, dally, recreate, wager, move, wreak, take on, work, toy, roleplay, playact, bet, run, fiddle, spiel, diddle, meet, act as, bring, encounter, trifle, behave, do

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. actnoun

   Synonyms:
   performance, feat, stunt , exploit, achievement, deed, action, procedure, turn, decree, edict, law, statute, enactment, ordinance

2. actverb

   Synonyms:
   behave, deport one's self, play, personate, impersonate, mimic, feign, counterfeit, simulate, dissemble

How to use act in a sentence?

1. Mark Ruge:

   The statements about the Jones Act in the (former IMF economists') report are overly simplistic, completely one-sided, and just plain wrong.

2. Recording Industry Association of America:

   Now, more than ever, it is clear that Congress needs to act to fix a law enacted in the days of dial-up Internet connections.

3. Rene Umberger:

   That act of ripping out my air supply was terrifying and dangerous, and if it had occurred to someone who did not have as much experience as I did, they might well have died.

4. Sheriff John Hanlin:

   I will not name the shooter, i will not give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act. You will never hear me mention his name.

5. Raphael Warnock:

   Our democracy is in peril and time is running out, this is a moral moment, and if leaders in Washington fail to protect the voices and the votes of the American people, then we have fallen way short of our responsibilities. It's time to act.

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