dissemble

[ dih-sem-buhl ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of:

   to dissemble one's incompetence in business.

   Synonyms: dissimulate, disguise, camouflage, hide, mask

2. to put on the appearance of; feign:

   to dissemble innocence.

3. Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

verb (used without object)

, dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

1. to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

dissemble

/ dɪˈsɛmbəl /

verb

1. to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence
2. tr to pretend; simulate
3. obsolete.
   to ignore

Derived Forms

• disˈsembler, noun
• disˈsemblingly, adverb
• disˈsembling, nounadjective
• disˈsemblance, noun

Other Words From

• dis·sem·bler noun
• dis·sem·bling·ly adverb
• un·dis·sem·bled adjective
• un·dis·sem·bling adjective
• un·dis·sem·bling·ly adverb
• well-dis·sem·bled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissemble¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; late Middle English dissemile, dissimill, alteration (by association with obsolete semblen, sembel “to bear a resemblance, appear to be”) of Middle English dissimulen “to assume a false appearance, be insincere,” from Old French dessembler, dissembler “to be unlike,” from Latin dissimulāre “to conceal the identity of, disguise”; dis- ¹, resemble, simulate

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissemble¹

C15: from earlier dissimulen, from Latin dissimulāre; probably influenced by obsolete semble to resemble

Example Sentences

They dissemble and they stonewall the press, and they do every time.

From Salon

"I don't think anybody in here on any issue of any substance would have to guess where Jim Jordan is going to stand. He doesn't deceive. He doesn't dissemble. He simply tells you straight up," Republican Representative Tom Cole said as he nominated Jordan for speaker ahead of the vote.

From Reuters

"I don't think anybody in here on any issue of any substance would have to guess where Jim Jordan is going to stand. He doesn't deceive. He doesn't dissemble. He simply tells you straight up," Republican Representative Tom Cole said as he nominated Jordan for speaker ahead of the vote.

From Reuters

“You won’t lie, you won’t dissemble, you will often express yourself with caveats, acknowledging gray areas. They’ll come back with what they say are hard facts: ‘Vaccines kill,’ or ‘this athlete dropped dead because he was killed by a vaccine.’

From Los Angeles Times

This time the case seems legitimate, and even if charges brought under the Espionage Act have a fairly checkered history, on its face the indictment makes a strong case that Trump asked for this, that he invited the prosecution, that he had plenty of opportunities to stay within the law and chose to obstruct, evade and dissemble instead.

From Seattle Times