feigned

[ feynd ]

adjective

1. pretended; sham; counterfeit:

   feigned enthusiasm.

2. assumed; fictitious:

   a feigned name.

3. disguised:

   a feigned voice.

Other Words From

• feign·ed·ly [fey, -nid-lee], adverb
• feigned·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of feigned¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; feign + -ed ²

Example Sentences

He put two pupils into headlocks and also feigned a punch and kick at one of them, the court heard.

From BBC

The Republican nominee responded with feigned ignorance: "Uh, I don't know the situation."

From Salon

Moreover, Stewart highlighted various statements from the U.S. and foreign policy officials who have feigned ignorance saying the U.S. was unaware when Israel would deploy these bombs, claiming, "it was not involved in these incidents."

From Salon

Holt became the team captain in the media’s game of feigned ignorance and real timidity.

From Salon

Continuing to harp on the feigned unity theme, Stewart then turned his focus to conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., who was unsurprisingly one of the most outspoken figures present at the Republican Convention.

From Salon