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pretense
Text:
or pretence
1
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>Synonymsaffectation, affectedness, grandiosity, pretension, pretentiousnessRelated Wordsarrogance, complacency, conceit, egotism, pride, self-assertion, self-conceit, self-importance, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vainness, vanity; disdain, haughtiness, lordliness, snobbery, snobbishness, superciliousness, superiority; confidence, presumption, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness; boastfulness, braggadocio; aggressiveness, assertiveness, audaciousness, boldness, brassiness, cheekiness, cockiness, forwardness, impudence, insolence, rudeness; grandiloquence; flashiness, gaudiness, ostentation, show, showinessNear Antonymsdemureness, humbleness, humility, meekness, modesty; bashfulness, diffidence, shyness, timidity; naturalness, sincerity
2
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive<her display of bravado was just a pretense>— see masquerade
3
an entitlement to something<the book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness>— see claim 1
4
an exaggerated sense of oneʼs 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>— see arrogance
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