What does dissembling mean?
Dissembling refers to the act of concealing one's true feelings, motives, or beliefs beneath a false outward appearance. As the present participle of the verb 'dissemble', it describes someone actively pretending — smiling when resentful, feigning indifference when anxious, or projecting confidence they do not feel. It can also function as a noun, denoting the practice of such concealment itself. The word carries a distinctly negative connotation: unlike simple privacy or tact, dissembling implies deliberate deception, and its formal, literary register lends it a weight that plainer words like 'pretending' lack. It appears frequently in discussions of politics, diplomacy, literature, and personal relationships, wherever appearances diverge from reality. Related forms include 'dissemble', the base verb, and 'dissembler', a person given to such deception. The word traces back through Latin roots meaning 'to make like' or 'to appear similar', reflecting its core idea of presenting a likeness rather than the truth.
Present participle of 'dissemble': to conceal one's true feelings, motives, or beliefs under a false appearance; to behave hypocritically or deceptively.
"She was dissembling throughout the interview, projecting enthusiasm for a job she had no intention of taking."
Typically used in progressive constructions ('was dissembling', 'kept dissembling') and usually describes deliberate, sustained concealment.
The act or practice of concealing one's real thoughts, motives, or feelings through pretence.
"A lifetime of dissembling had left him unsure which of his own opinions he genuinely held."
Functions as a gerund noun, usually uncountable; common in formal or literary contexts.
Shakespeare put the word to deadly use: 'dissembling' hides your truth so well that Hamlet accused the whole world of it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dissembling
Dissembling derives from the verb 'dissemble', which entered English in the early 16th century from the Latin 'dissimulare', meaning to hide or conceal. The Latin root combines 'dis-' (apart) with 'simulare' (to make like, to copy), from 'similis' meaning 'like' or 'similar'. Cognates sharing this root include 'similar', 'simulate', and 'assimilate'. Over centuries the word settled into its modern sense of hiding one's true thoughts or feelings under a false exterior, appearing often in Renaissance drama and political writing.
Related word forms
How dissembling is actually used
Carries a strongly negative connotation of deliberate deception, more formal and literary than everyday words like 'lying'. Often used of people concealing emotions rather than stating outright falsehoods.
Easily confused with dissembling
'Disassembling' means taking something apart into its components, while 'dissembling' means hiding one's true feelings or intentions.