- to conceal (one's real feelings) by pretence
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•sim•u•late /dɪˈsɪmyəˌleɪt/USA pronunciation
v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
dis•sim•u•la•tor, n. [countable]See -simil-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to conceal under a false appearance; dissemble: [~ + object]dissimulated their intentions right up to the moment of the attack.[no object]They were just dissimulating, pretending to be friendly.
dis•sim•u•la•tor, n. [countable]See -simil-.
dis•sim•u•late
(di sim′yə lāt′),USA pronunciation v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
dis•sim′u•la′tive, adj.
dis•sim′u•la′tor, n.
v.t.
- to disguise or conceal under a false appearance;
dissemble:to dissimulate one's true feelings about a rival.
v.i.
- to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense;
speak or act hypocritically.
- Latin dissimulātus (past participle of dissimulāre to feign). See dis-1, simulate
- 1525–35
dis•sim′u•la′tor, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dissimulate /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/ vb
'dissimulate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):