Act
Act noun - A display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive.
Usage example: was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing
Excuse
Excuse noun - An explanation that frees one from fault or blame.
How words are described
| good | good act | good excuse |
| best | best act | best excuse |
| similar | similar act | similar excuse |
| common | common act | common excuse |
| Other adjectives: blatant, simple, popular, actual, real, massive, big, great, evil, little, bad, terrible, horrible, main, new, major, random, last. | ||
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- Given that when he has an excuse to act like more of a jackass he does (such as in "Petarded", when he finds out people will excuse him anything after he's diagnosed as mentally incompetent).
Source: We Want Our Jerk Back -
Kind of zig-zagged, as Aeka actually enjoys the excuse to act childish instead of refined, just not in front of others.
Source: Amazingly Embarrassing Parents -
Steve gets one from his daughter in act three: Lisa: You know, my mother might be a troubled woman, but what's your excuse?
Source: Film / Steve Jobs
Cite this Source
Excuse and Act. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 07, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/act/excuse
Act & Excuse. N.p., 2016. Web. 07 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/act/excuse>.
Excuse or Act. 2016. Accessed August 07, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/act/excuse.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "act" and "excuse" have occurred on timeline