Noun: dissembling di'sem-b(u-)ling
- The act of hiding one's true feelings or intentions
"Her cheerful demeanour was mere dissembling to hide her disappointment";
- deception, deceit, dissimulation
- Pretending with intention to deceive
"The politician's dissembling about the scandal only made things worse";
- pretense [N. Amer], pretence [Brit, Cdn]
- Hide under a false appearance
"He dissembled his disappointment";
- cloak, mask
- Make believe with the intent to deceive
"The politician dissembled about his true intentions";
- feign, sham, pretend, affect
- Behave unnaturally or affectedly
"She's just dissembling";
- pretend, act
Derived forms: dissemblings
Type of: acquit, act, bear, behave, belie, carry, comport, conduct, deceit, deception, deport, disguise, do, falsification, mask, misrepresent, misrepresentation
Encyclopedia: Dissembling
Dissemble