Synonyms of pretense

pretense

noun

ˈprē-ˌten(t)s 

variants or pretence

1

as in affectation

the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case

she seemed to be a very down-to-earth woman who was completely free of pretense

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affectation
• pretension
• inflation
• vanity
• arrogance
• grandiosity
• disdain
• pretentiousness
• rudeness
• confidence
• affectedness
• superiority
• vainness
• smugness
• assertiveness
• complacency
• snobbery
• self-aggrandizement
• haughtiness
• aggressiveness
• imperiousness
• vainglory
• presumption
• self-satisfaction
• snobbishness
• hauteur
• egotism
• sureness
• conceit
• boldness
• self-assertion
• superciliousness
• pride
• pompousness
• self-conceit
• self-importance
• presumptuousness
• bumptiousness
• self-assurance
• boastfulness
• self-confidence
• self-glorification
• vaingloriousness
• lordliness
• braggadocio
• ostentation
• audaciousness
• cockiness
• forwardness
• impudence
• show
• glitz
• cheekiness
• mummery
• flamboyance
• insolence
• gaudiness
• self-assumption
• showiness
• grandiloquence
• flashiness
• ostentatiousness
• garishness
• self-consequence
• brassiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humility
• modesty
• meekness
• humbleness
• demureness
• timidity
• lowliness
• sincerity
• diffidence
• shyness
• bashfulness
• down-to-earthness
• naturalness

2

as in airs

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive

her display of bravado was just a pretense

Synonyms & Similar Words

• airs
• act
• show
• pose
• front
• performance
• charade
• affectation
• portrayal
• façade
• semblance
• masquerade
• guise
• facade
• disguise
• appearance
• put-on
• playacting
• color
• deception
• persona
• duplicity
• image
• impersonation
• pretext
• excuse
• cloak
• camouflage
• deceit
• gloss
• fraud
• dissimulation
• betrayal
• treason
• treachery
• guile
• fakery
• infidelity
• falseness
• perfidy
• dissembling
• falsity
• faithlessness
• double-dealing
• unfaithfulness
• double cross

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• candor
• directness
• bluntness
• straightforwardness
• forthrightness
• outspokenness
• naïveté
• naiveté
• candidness
• genuineness
• naivete
• artlessness
• openheartedness
• plainspokenness

3

as in claim

an entitlement to something

this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• claim
• pretension
• right
• call
• dibs
• prerogative
• privilege
• title
• refusal
• birthright
• favor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• waiver
• release
• disclaimer
• quitclaim

4

as in arrogance

an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims

the pretense of that woman in thinking that the other hotel guests should be inconvenienced just for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrogance
• superiority
• assumption
• consequence
• attitude
• pretension
• haughtiness
• pomposity
• superciliousness
• imperiousness
• loftiness
• hauteur
• vanity
• pretentiousness
• peremptoriness
• self-importance
• pompousness
• bumptiousness
• presumptuousness
• lordliness
• high horse
• masterfulness
• huffiness
• toploftiness
• pridefulness
• disdain
• pride
• side
• self-consequence
• condescension
• snobbery
• dominance
• scorn
• bravado
• high-handedness
• inflation
• snobbishness
• bossiness
• snobbism
• snootiness
• self-assertion
• chest-thumping
• authoritativeness
• boastfulness
• brag
• smugness
• triumphalism
• swagger
• cheekiness
• vainglory
• bowwow
• sauciness
• bombast
• egoism
• impudence
• self-satisfaction
• braggadocio
• egotism
• self-complacency
• cockiness
• self-opinion
• self-centeredness
• conceit
• self-conceit
• cheek
• complacence
• self-content
• impertinence
• strut
• vaingloriousness
• swelled head
• self-contentment
• superiority complex
• self-assumption
• self-partiality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humility
• modesty
• unpretentiousness
• shyness
• bashfulness
• timidity
• diffidence
• demureness
• passivity
• meekness
• self-doubt
• submissiveness
• unassumingness
• passiveness
• reserve
• lowliness
• quietness
• timidness
• retiringness
• self-distrust
• reservedness
• mousiness

Examples of pretense in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under the pretense of going to the bathroom, Dunne escaped out the window and took off in her car, which Sweeney jumped the hood of. —Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2024

There is an appealing lack of pretense about the artist, both in her self-presentation and in her process. —Jen Wang, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024

The caller instructed the victim to wire money into another bank account, to which the victim complied, for a total loss of about $98,000. July 25 Theft by false pretenses: Someone contacted a Saratoga resident and remotely accessed their laptop. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024

In some ways, absolutely: they’ve been painted with no pretense of objectivity by an artist who relies, if reluctantly, on the curves and tints of his own eyes. —Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing pretense

• make a pretense