dissemble
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of.
to dissemble one's incompetence in business.
- Synonyms:
- dissimulate, disguise, camouflage, hide, mask
-
to put on the appearance of; feign.
to dissemble innocence.
-
Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence
-
(tr) to pretend; simulate
-
obsolete to ignore
Other Word Forms
- dissemblance noun
- dissembler noun
- dissembling noun
- dissemblingly adverb
- undissembled adjective
- undissembling adjective
- undissemblingly adverb
- well-dissembled adjective
Etymology
Origin of dissemble
First recorded in 1490–1500; late Middle English dissemile, dissimill, alteration (by association with obsolete semblen, sembel “to bear a resemblance, appear to be”) of Middle English dissimulen “to assume a false appearance, be insincere,” from Old French dessembler, dissembler “to be unlike,” from Latin dissimulāre “to conceal the identity of, disguise”; dis- 1, resemble, simulate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Evgeny dissembles: “Nothing. It is perhaps the fragrant scent of a passing track team.”
“This Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims — to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts,” Rufe wrote.
From Los Angeles Times
But most of us had come to expect our leaders to duck, deal and dissemble until it would be too late.
When a suspicious F.B.I. agent later interviewed him about the trip, Hua dissembled and said he was only visiting friends and family.
From New York Times
Decks of cards propagate, fly, dissemble and reconstitute after being shredded.
From Washington Post
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
