feigned

[feynd]

adjective

1. pretended; sham; counterfeit.

   feigned enthusiasm.

2. assumed; fictitious.

   a feigned name.

3. disguised.

   a feigned voice.

Other Word Forms

• feignedly adverb
• feignedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of feigned¹

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

Example Sentences

When another student enters and surveys the bodies on the ground in poorly feigned shock, few manage to suppress their giggles.

From Salon

Prosecutors argued Patterson had faked a cancer diagnosis to coax the guests to her house, then poisoned them and feigned illness to ward off suspicion.

From BBC

“Go on,” Johnson says with a feigned seriousness.

From Los Angeles Times

For real — not like the astonishment Zoë Kravitz feigned in a Golden Globes-set episode of “The Studio,” faking disbelief at the podium when she knew all along that she was going to win.

From Los Angeles Times

“Oliver’s feigned outrage at Dr. Morley was fabricated for ratings and profits at the expense of Dr. Morley’s reputation and personal well-being.”

From Los Angeles Times