dissembling

Dissembling is the act of concealing or disguising one’s true feelings, motives, or beliefs, or presenting a false appearance. It involves shaping outward behavior to create a misleading impression, rather than simply making a false statement. Dissembling can accompany truth-telling or non-verbal deception and may range from mild tact to deliberate subterfuge.

The term originates from Old French dessembler and entered English in the early modern period. Its sense has long included concealment of inner states as well as the deliberate misrepresentation of intentions, sometimes through clever phrasing or controlled affect.

Forms of dissembling include nonverbal cues such as facial expression and posture, tone of voice, selective disclosure, evasive or ambiguous language, feigning ignorance or competence, and carefully timed communication. It can be situational—used to navigate social norms and privacy—or strategic, aimed at influencing decisions or maintaining appearances.

Contexts vary from everyday social interaction to politics, diplomacy, and literature. In psychology and ethics, dissembling is discussed as a defense mechanism or social skill that protects privacy or stability, but it raises questions about honesty and trust. In legal and professional settings, dissembling can intersect with fraud or false representation when it involves material misstatements or omissions in binding transactions or duties.

See also: dissimulation, deceit, hypocrisy, camouflage. While related terms share the broad idea of hiding truth, dissembling emphasizes the concealment of inner states and intentions rather than necessarily asserting false facts.