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dissemble

verb
dis·​sem·​ble | \ di-ˈsem-bÉ™l How to pronounce dissemble (audio) \
dissembled; dissembling\ -​b(É™-​)liÅ‹ How to pronounce dissembling (audio) \

Definition of dissemble

transitive verb

1 : to hide under a false appearance dissembling the facts
2 : to put on the appearance of : simulate She lay down and dissembled sleep.

intransitive verb

: to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense He had dissembled about the risks involved.
Other Words from dissemble Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about dissemble

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Other Words from dissemble

dissembler \ -​b(É™-​)lÉ™r How to pronounce dissembler (audio) \ noun

Did You Know?

We don't have anything to hide: "dissemble" is a synonym of "disguise," "cloak," and "mask." "Disguise" implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity. "Cloak" suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention. "Mask" suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something. "Dissemble" (from Latin dissimulare, meaning "to hide or conceal") stresses the intent to deceive, especially about one's own thoughts or feelings, and often implies that the deception is something that would warrant censure if discovered.

Examples of dissemble in a Sentence

he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age

Recent Examples on the Web

 In the view of most Americans, the Lewinsky story, although pathetic and unnerving, never amounted to a case sufficient to justify Clinton’s removal from office, even when attached to Clinton’s dissembling under oath about the matter. — Sean Wilentz, The New Yorker, "Nancy Pelosi, Impeachment, and Places in History," 11 July 2019 Instead the White House has disregarded these legitimate congressional inquiries and dissembled about basic facts. — Alana Abramson, Time, "Congress Will Try Again to Learn What Trump and Putin Told Each Other," 24 June 2019 Instead, the White House has disregarded these legitimate congressional inquiries and dissembled about basic facts. — NBC News, "Cummings demands details on 2017 Trump-Putin meeting," 24 June 2019 Instead, the White House has disregarded these legitimate congressional inquiries and dissembled about basic facts. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Democrats still working to get Trump-Putin translator notes," 24 June 2019 Three federal trial judges have ruled that the evidence in the record demonstrates that Mr. Ross was dissembling. — New York Times, "Census Fight Grows as House Panel Backs Contempt and Trump Asserts Privilege," 12 June 2019 Under those faintly menacing tendrils, people change, become furtive, dissembling, with it, rotten as the jungles whence come the plants. — Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, "SF’s Interval puts the fern bar on a cocktail menu," 20 June 2018 Anna hemmed and hawed and dissembled and prevaricated and, as the women got increasingly angry, allowed two fat tears to roll down her cheeks. — Jessica Pressler, The Cut, "Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It," 28 May 2018 The panels of beef emerge beautifully tender, the connecting stitches of fat visible to the eye but dissembling immediately on the tongue. — Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, "At Ho Foods, a Noodle Soup That Nourishes and Transports," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dissemble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of dissemble

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for dissemble

Middle English dissymblen, alteration of dissimulen, from Middle French dissimuler, from Latin dissimulare — more at dissimulate

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More Definitions for dissemble

dissemble

verb
How to pronounce dissemble (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of dissemble

formal + literary : to hide your true feelings, opinions, etc.

See the full definition for dissemble in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on dissemble

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with dissemble

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dissemble

Spanish Central: Translation of dissemble

Nglish: Translation of dissemble for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of dissemble for Arabic Speakers

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