pretender

noun

pre·​tend·​er pri-ˈten-dər 

: one that pretends: such as

a

: one who lays claim to something

specifically : a claimant to a throne who is held to have no just title

b

: one who makes a false or hypocritical show

Synonyms of pretender

• fraud
• fake
• sham
• impostor
• deceiver
• charlatan
• faker
• mountebank
• misleader
• quack
• actor

Examples of pretender in a Sentence

it turns out that the guy who claimed to work for a modeling agency was just a pretender

Recent Examples on the Web

The Pahlavi pretender himself certainly thinks so. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026

Momentum hardens, vulnerabilities are exposed and the gap between contenders and pretenders is out in the open. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026

With the monetary system in a free-fall, some Iranians would rather have a beneficent king than all these pretenders oh-so-interested in the people. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026

The Patriots are contenders, the Bears pretenders. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

pretend entry 1 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretender

• bartender
• contender
• defender
• engender
• extender
• offender
• provender
• surrender
• suspender
• transgender
• bender
• blender

Kids Definition

pretender

noun

pre·​tend·​er pri-ˈten-dər 

1

: a person who pretends

2

: a person who claims a throne without right