The antonyms for the phrase "acted in place of" can vary depending on the context. However, some common antonyms could include "abstained" meaning to not act or participate, "abdicated" meaning to give up or renounce a position, or "refrained" meaning to hold back from acting. In some cases, "acted in place of" could also be interpreted as a synonym for "substituted," in which case the antonyms could include "maintained," "preserved," or "left as is." It's important to pay attention to the context in which the phrase is used to determine the most appropriate antonym.