Dissemble

To dissemble is to conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to pretend. It involves creating a deceptive appearance, often to avoid revealing something personal or to manipulate a situation. Dissembling can range from small white lies to elaborate schemes of deception. The act aims at obscuring reality, projecting a false image to others. Often, dissembling is driven by a desire to protect oneself, to achieve an advantage, or to conform to social expectations. While seemingly harmless, dissembling can erode trust, damage relationships, and have negative consequences.

Dissemble meaning with examples

• He chose to dissemble his disappointment about not getting the promotion, feigning enthusiasm for his colleague's success during the office celebration. The smile he wore didn't match his internal frustrations, a common tactic he employed to navigate the office politics and avoid appearing bitter or resentful to upper management.
• Knowing his parents disapproved of his girlfriend, he learned to dissemble his relationship status during family gatherings. He would offer vague answers about his love life, carefully avoiding any specific mention of her, masking his ongoing relationship to keep the peace within the family.
• The spy was a master of dissembling, adept at hiding his true identity and intentions. He used careful language and subtle gestures, crafting a convincing façade to gain the trust of his targets and obtain valuable information for his government agency. The stakes were always high, making deception a crucial part of his trade.
• She often felt the need to dissemble her true feelings of exhaustion and stress. While she could barely hold herself together, she maintained an image of being well, energetic, and productive for her boss. The pressure to conform and appear capable led her to carefully hide her true state.