What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shamming
Example
He was caught shamming a headache to skip school. [shamming: verb]
Example
She was accused of shamming her injury to get out of work. [shamming: gerund or present participle]
feigning
Example
He was feigning happiness even though he was upset. [feigning: verb]
Example
She was accused of feigning surprise when she already knew the news. [feigning: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Feigning is more commonly used than shamming in everyday language. Feigning is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shamming is less common and refers to a specific type of pretending.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between shamming and feigning?
Both shamming and feigning are informal words that are typically used in casual conversation or writing. However, feigning may be slightly more formal due to its wider range of usage and versatility.
