pretense

noun

ˈprē-ˌten(t)s How to pronounce pretense (audio)
variants or pretence
Definition of pretensenext
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

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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

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3
as in right
an entitlement to something this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pretense Everyone loved it, without pretense, staying up late to watch it and then plotting our own stunts the next day. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Now even that pretense is disappearing. — Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 Fernando Navarro, 53, of Minneapolis, is facing four counts of felony fraud for collecting nearly $70,000 in funds from Minnesota's medical assistance program under false pretenses. — Riley Moser, CBS News, 23 June 2026 Parliament was self-destructively arrogant in declining the colonies any vote or even much pretense of a say. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
  1. affectation
  2. facade
  3. right
  4. arrogance
  5. pretension
  6. guise
  7. claim
  8. superiority
Noun
  • In the wrong hands, those points of reference could land like an affectation, but instead, the band’s embrace of them feels genuine.
    — Nick Laskin, Pitchfork, 20 May 2026
  • The 33-year-old Indianapolis native can trace its origins to a natural inclination toward performing and a lifelong admiration of Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric, but there's no step-by-step guide on how Sullivan mastered the affectation.
    — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 4 May 2026
Definition of affectation
Noun
  • Europe has long resisted air conditioning as noisy, an eyesore on architectural facades and unnecessary, as brutal summer heat has been relatively short-lived.
    — Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Original Tuscan columns on the facade were preserved, while interior crown moldings were restored and paired with bleached hardwood chevron floors, new chandeliers, and mantlepieces.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 2 July 2026
Definition of facade
Noun
  • The sheen is light as a feather, blends like a dream, and at SPF 50, is a serious sunscreen in its own right.
    — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • On the surface, the Supreme Court’s June 30 opinion upholding state laws barring transgender girls from women’s and girl’s sports teams looks like a victory for women’s rights.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of right
Noun
  • Needless to say there was no second date, and, eventually though painfully, my own arrogance had some of its rough edges worn down.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
  • In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • Impartial, fact-finding and without pretension, Burns turns his camera to our history in a sober-but-not-boring manner.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • To adore the literary greats but reject any modicum of pretension?
    — Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of pretension
Noun
  • Somewhere between a sandal and a ballet flat, caged silhouettes come in all manner of guises.
    — Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • Everything from the division of the Peaches and the Plums to Shamea’s tagline this season is a secret cry from Shamea to Porsha, begging for attention under the guise of her own emancipation.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of guise
Noun
  • Kunst said there were some undocumented claims of miraculous cures prior to when records of such occurrences would be kept, dating back to the 1950s.
    — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
  • All claims were dismissed, and a hearing will be held on July 29 and 30 to hear arguments on any points of dispute.
    — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of claim
Noun
  • These early precedents in fictional brutality also weaken Thomson’s next point, about literature’s superiority.
    — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Part of the reason for this is the Dodgers have entered a boring-great stage of hegemony, in which their superiority over the rest of the league is so pronounced that there is little to discuss on a day-to-day basis.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of superiority

Phrases Containing pretense

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Cite this Entry

“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pretense for Spanish Speakers

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