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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in facade

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

her display of bravado was just a pretense

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in right

an entitlement to something

this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pretense

The investigation revealed that on March 21, 2021, Vega flagged down Perez, a local street vendor, with the pretense of buying from him, KMPH reported. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Except at the French Open, where humans still inspect skid marks on the red clay, in tennis, the pretense of any agency over the machine is gone. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026

Trimpey also faces a felony charge of obtaining money by false pretenses. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

In the suit, Ibrahim alleges that he was lured to the gym under the pretense of a challenge and was ambushed by Watson, a co-owner of the gym and two other men. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Phrases Containing pretense

• make a pretense