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
Words Nearby dissemble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dissemble in a sentence
When Clyde was pressed by reporters on this Thursday, he smirked and dissembled and regarded his questioners with utter contempt, as if he’s entirely untouchable in his ability to rewrite the history of what we all saw with our own eyes.
A cop’s anger at GOP lies about Jan. 6 should put Republicans on the defensive | Greg Sargent | May 14, 2021 | Washington PostIt took German soldiers just 36 hours and 27 crates to dissemble the entire chamber and ship it to a castle in Königsberg.
Three days into the life of the fledgling country and separatists dissemble on how far advanced they are in state making.
Instead of too big to fail, they embrace the unfettered right to cheat and dissemble.
But it apparently made it easier for Pentagon officials to dissemble about them.
It would not be the same house; we should have to dissemble; I saw myself speaking English the long day through.
Margaret Ogilvy | J. M. BarrieThe Minister was too old, and too passionate by nature, to hide his feelings; he no longer cared to dissemble them.
The conquest of Rome | Matilde SeraoIt smote him with horror and anger; but he was much too manly to betray these actual sentiments, and continued to dissemble.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete | George MeredithIt may even be politic to dissemble a little, and pretend we rather enjoy it than otherwise.
How to be Happy Though Married | E. J. Hardy.Lady Byron, having once conceived a notion of Augustas guilt, would not change her opinion, and was far too honest to dissemble.
Byron | Richard Edgcumbe
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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