feigned concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feigned concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone pretends to care about something or someone, often for ulterior motives. Example: "Her feigned concern for his well-being was evident when she only showed up to the meeting to gather information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

These cabbies are a smooth-talking, philosophical bunch, well versed in the art of negotiation and feigned concern.

The New York Times

Like today's celebrity weeklies, "Courtesans" feigned concern and moral acuity (see OK!'s recent description of a Britney Spears meltdown as "heartbreaking") while reveling in the scandal.

The New York Times

He feigned concern about why it would be that no pollster was asking the public what they want.

Huffington Post

Naturally, Republicans pounced, claiming the flop of the website meant the entire Affordable Care Act was also a failure, and feigned concern over people who were being kicked off their previous coverage or couldn't get on the site in the first place.

Huffington Post

Surely you jest with your feigned concern that advertising in The Times may be tainting the purity of its news content.

The New York Times

Concerns about the unauthorized use of the data can be met, safety experts say, and some have suggested that automobile industry executives are hiding their distaste for regulating a standard behind a feigned concern for drivers' privacy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"Oh, honey," Ms. White said, feigning concern and popping another éclair into her mouth.

The New York Times

The owners aren't just feigning concern for their eventual employees, they're not even trying very hard to make it seem sincere.

The New Yorker

He simply took another opportunity to stir up resentment towards the most vulnerable while feigning concern and taking no responsibility whatever for the economic situation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tanya Watts, Becky Watts' mother He added: "In my judgment the behaviour of both Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare in feigning concern with the family, as the family desperately searched for Becky, is a further, and serious, aggravating feature.

Independent

"And we're going to go through the same cycles of periodic violence, and the occasional riots in the streets, and everybody will feign concern until it goes away, and then we go about our business as usual".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feigned concern" to clearly convey that someone is pretending to care, often to mask ulterior motives or avoid genuine engagement with a problem.

Common error

Avoid using "feigned concern" when you mean sincere empathy. The phrase specifically denotes insincerity, so ensure your word choice accurately reflects the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feigned concern" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "feigned" modifies the noun "concern". It describes a specific type of concern that is not genuine. Ludwig AI confirms it's usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "feigned concern" is a valid and useful phrase for expressing that someone is pretending to be worried or caring. It's grammatically correct and best suited for neutral contexts, commonly appearing in news and media. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is straightforward in its implication of insincerity. Alternatives like "pretended concern" or "insincere concern" can be used for subtle variations in meaning. When using "feigned concern", ensure you intend to convey a lack of genuineness to avoid misrepresenting someone's emotions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pretended concern

Replaces "feigned" with "pretended", a direct synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

false concern

Uses "false" instead of "feigned", highlighting the lack of genuine emotion.

simulated concern

Emphasizes the artificial or imitated nature of the concern.

insincere concern

Directly states the lack of sincerity in the expressed concern.

put-on concern

Highlights the act of displaying concern as a performance.

affected concern

Suggests a deliberate and artificial display of concern.

contrived concern

Indicates that the concern is artificially created or planned.

sham concern

Implies that the concern is a deceptive imitation of genuine care.

ostensible concern

Focuses on the outward appearance of concern, which may not be genuine.

superficial concern

Highlights that the concern lacks depth or real feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "feigned concern" in a sentence?

You can use "feigned concern" to describe someone who is pretending to care about something they do not actually care about. For example: "His "feigned concern" was obvious when he asked about my health but didn't listen to the answer."

What is a good alternative to "feigned concern"?

Alternatives include "pretended concern", "false concern", or "insincere concern". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to describe someone's concern as "feigned"?

Yes, "feigned" always implies insincerity or pretense. Therefore, using "feigned concern" always carries a negative connotation.

What's the difference between "feigned concern" and "genuine concern"?

"Feigned concern" is pretended or insincere, while "genuine concern" is sincere and authentic. They are opposites.