English Lexicon

Dissimulation

/dɪˌsɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The act of concealing one's true motives, thoughts, or feelings under a deceptive appearance.

    "His outward calm was mere dissimulation, masking the intense anxiety he felt inside."
  2. 2

    A false show or pretense; hypocrisy or feigning.

    "The diplomatic negotiations were fraught with political dissimulation and hidden agendas."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin verb dissimulare, meaning 'to disguise, conceal, or dissemble', which is a compound of dis- (expressing separation or reversal) and simulare (to make like, imitate). It entered the English language in the late Middle English period via Old French, retaining its core meaning of hiding one's true motives, feelings, or identity under a false appearance.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Dissimulation"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Dissimulation"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Dissimulation" Synonym Map