under/on the pretense of
idiom
: using as a false reason or explanation (something that is used to hide the real purpose of something)
He called her under/on the pretense of asking about the homework assignment.
Examples of under/on the pretense of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The moral panic was misplaced, but not unusual—part of a long national tradition of culture wars waged under the pretense of politics.
—
Alan Siegel, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington under the pretense of negotiating a peace deal.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Music Sean Combs abused women during ‘freak offs’ involving male prostitutes, drugs, violence, feds allege
Sept. 17, 2024
The indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
UConn is already closing small classes and programs on the pretense of efficiency, while asking faculty to teach increasingly larger classes.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for under/on the pretense of
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Alan Siegel, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington under the pretense of negotiating a peace deal.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Music Sean Combs abused women during ‘freak offs’ involving male prostitutes, drugs, violence, feds allege
Sept. 17, 2024
The indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
UConn is already closing small classes and programs on the pretense of efficiency, while asking faculty to teach increasingly larger classes.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for under/on the pretense of
Cite this Entry
“Under/on the pretense of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%2Fon%20the%20pretense%20of. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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