under false pretenses
idiom
: by saying something that is not true, by pretending something, etc.
A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses.
Examples of under false pretenses in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His claim accuses federal officials of detaining him under false pretenses and launching a smear campaign to discredit his advocacy.
—
Gabe Whisnant
dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Apparently many law students get ADA disability accommodations under false pretenses, giving them twice as much time to finish tests.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2025
Gathering emergency personnel under false pretenses can hinder their ability to respond to actual emergencies.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
After much time spent together under false pretenses in Season 2, Gi-hun and The Front Man/In-ho share their first scene together in Season 3 toward the end of the series when The Front Man reveals his true identity to Gi-hun.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for under false pretenses
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.
Gabe Whisnant
dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Apparently many law students get ADA disability accommodations under false pretenses, giving them twice as much time to finish tests.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2025
Gathering emergency personnel under false pretenses can hinder their ability to respond to actual emergencies.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
After much time spent together under false pretenses in Season 2, Gi-hun and The Front Man/In-ho share their first scene together in Season 3 toward the end of the series when The Front Man reveals his true identity to Gi-hun.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for under false pretenses
Cite this Entry
“Under false pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20false%20pretenses. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share