Sham
Definition
Sham as a verb means to pretend or feign something. It’s like putting on an act or pretending to be someone or something you’re not. Sometimes people sham their emotions too. For example, if someone is feeling sad but doesn’t want others to know, they might sham happiness by putting on a smile and acting cheerful. It’s like wearing a mask to hide their true feelings. Shamming can also involve pretending to have certain skills or abilities. Imagine someone who wants to impress others with their knowledge of a particular subject, even though they don’t really know much about it. They might sham their expertise by talking confidently and making it seem like they’re an authority on the topic.
Example sentences
He tried to sham his way out of taking responsibility for his actions.
He shammed interest in the conversation to avoid revealing his true feelings.
The politician attempted to sham the public with false promises.
The student shammed understanding the topic to avoid answering the teacher’s question.
She shammed enthusiasm for the project, but everyone could tell she wasn’t interested.