What does dissimulating mean?
Dissimulating is the act of concealing one's genuine feelings, intentions, or beliefs beneath a deliberately false exterior. Someone who is dissimulating is not merely keeping quiet about the truth; they are actively presenting an appearance designed to mislead, whether that means feigning calm while anxious, projecting loyalty while plotting otherwise, or masking resentment behind courtesy. The word functions as the present participle and gerund of the verb "dissimulate," and it belongs to a formal register, appearing most often in literary, historical, and political prose where deception and court intrigue are at issue. Its Latin ancestry ties it to the verb "simulare," meaning to make like or imitate — so dissimulating literally involves making oneself seem unlike what one truly is. Because it implies sustained, purposeful disguise rather than casual dishonesty, the word carries a weighty, often sinister connotation, making it a precise choice for writers describing calculated concealment.
Present participle of "dissimulate": concealing one's true feelings, intentions, or beliefs under a false appearance.
"She spent the evening dissimulating, careful to let no hint of her unease reach her hosts."
Typically used with a direct object ("dissimulating his anger") or absolutely ("practised in dissimulating").
The action or practice of concealing one's true feelings or intentions behind a false appearance.
"In diplomatic circles, dissimulating was less a vice than a survival skill."
The same Latin root that gives us "simulate" also gives us "dissimulating" — one word means openly imitating reality, the other means burying your true self beneath a fake surface.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dissimulating
Dissimulating derives from the Latin verb dissimulare, formed from dis- (expressing reversal or removal) plus simulare, "to make like, to imitate" — itself from similis, "like, similar." The verb entered English via French in the early 16th century, and its participial form followed naturally. It shares this root with words such as "simulate," "simulation," "simulacrum," and "similar," all tracing back to the same Latin source.
Related word forms
How dissimulating is actually used
A formal, literary term, more common in historical and political writing than in everyday speech. It carries a connotation of deliberate, sustained deception rather than momentary white lies. In ordinary conversation, speakers more often use "hiding," "covering up," or the near-synonym "dissembling." The noun form is "dissimulation."
Easily confused with dissimulating
"Simulating" means imitating or reproducing something, whereas "dissimulating" means concealing one's true feelings or intentions — the prefix "dis-" reverses the sense of open display.