as in ran riot
to behave badly
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
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Recent Examples of acted out
Friends and family say Wright acted out throughout the trial, including missing previous court dates and removing himself from the stand.
—
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Like other states around the country, Tennessee was closing its public psychiatric hospitals, and mentally ill people who acted out were simply being jailed.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Administration officials have argued Ross acted out of self-defense, alleging Good was impeding federal law enforcement.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 18 Jan. 2026
His observations about the barbarity of women’s beauty regimens aren’t exactly new, but they are acted out with enthusiasm and verve.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in June, Jimenez was watching as parishioners acted out the Nativity scene during a posada, a Latin American tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in search of shelter.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Others abused alcohol and drugs, were separated and divorced, or acted out violently.
—Arianna Huffington, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
The loyal troupe fought with bullies and acted out Smith’s tales, some of which were loosely based on her favorite books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Little Women, Nancy Drew).
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
At one point, Swift acted out swooning, possibly in response to something Travis did on the field.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Like other states around the country, Tennessee was closing its public psychiatric hospitals, and mentally ill people who acted out were simply being jailed.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Administration officials have argued Ross acted out of self-defense, alleging Good was impeding federal law enforcement.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 18 Jan. 2026
His observations about the barbarity of women’s beauty regimens aren’t exactly new, but they are acted out with enthusiasm and verve.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in June, Jimenez was watching as parishioners acted out the Nativity scene during a posada, a Latin American tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in search of shelter.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Others abused alcohol and drugs, were separated and divorced, or acted out violently.
—Arianna Huffington, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
The loyal troupe fought with bullies and acted out Smith’s tales, some of which were loosely based on her favorite books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Little Women, Nancy Drew).
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
At one point, Swift acted out swooning, possibly in response to something Travis did on the field.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acted out
Verb
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However, all of the city’s fire stations seemingly disobeyed the mayor by lowering their flags.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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In one story, the king, Hiranyakashipu, ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him and was irked when his own son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, disobeyed his command.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And of course, Peterson not playing would have made some wonder if the McDonald’s All-American’s hamstring had acted up again.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The couple carried on despite high waters, a testament to love and resilience in the face of severe weather.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
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And so Lobanov and Stetsenko carried on with their plans, exchanging vows at the Palace of Culture and then heading to a nearby café with their guests to celebrate.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More than two centuries after the 13 colonies rebelled against King George III and sent his redcoats packing, a direct descendant of that monarch will arrive Monday in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from British rule.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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When garnished with the story of an impetuous son who rebelled against a Mughal emperor, that lamb broth does give a different kick.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acted out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acted%20out. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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