variants
or pretence
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in airs
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
her display of bravado was just a pretense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in claim
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretense
What To Know According to court documents reviewed by NewsNation, Piccolo is accused of driving up to a woman in Manatee County, stopping his vehicle under the pretense of asking for directions and then exposing himself.
—
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
First, there is a difference between negotiating face-to-face with a fellow human and negotiating in a pretense mode with AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Orellana was detained because he was convicted in 2017 of obtaining less than $200 by false pretenses, according to a notice from the Department of Homeland Security ordering him to appear before an immigration judge.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Unfortunately, the modernizing premise – aside from the de rigueur costumes and odd laptop, more pretense than premise – seriously impacts the emotional punch of the ending.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
First, there is a difference between negotiating face-to-face with a fellow human and negotiating in a pretense mode with AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Orellana was detained because he was convicted in 2017 of obtaining less than $200 by false pretenses, according to a notice from the Department of Homeland Security ordering him to appear before an immigration judge.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Unfortunately, the modernizing premise – aside from the de rigueur costumes and odd laptop, more pretense than premise – seriously impacts the emotional punch of the ending.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
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Ivy-as-Marilyn is an inconsiderate, amphetamine guzzling faux-intellectual whose devotion to the acting craft is presented as a vainglorious affectation.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The interaction between Briony and Jamie starts off amiably, with Jamie needling Briony for her posh affectations.—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Any such claim of authority would no doubt be litigated.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
5 May 2025
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Similarly, Trump's trade tariffs, territorial claims, and aggressive rhetoric towards nations like Mexico and Canada aim to project strength and assert dominance, even at the cost of disrupting traditional relations.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Noun
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The arrogance of economics and its myriad equations, charts and numbers is astounding.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Others were negative traits to avoid, like irritability, arrogance, and combativeness.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Starr was the fastest to comic relief and most averse to pretension in any form.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
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Their pretensions are witheringly lampooned in this comic thriller about Ronnie, a Pakistani American who tags along to the desert enclave with her friend turned life coach, Marley.—
Calum Marsh,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Brought in as a response to 66 fans losing their lives in a crush at Ibrox four years earlier, the act (known as the Green Guide) introduced a compulsory licensing system for grounds in the top two divisions.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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Balancing family and business is often framed as an impossible juggling act—one where something always has to give.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Noun
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Murrow worked on Adlai Stevenson’s presidential campaign while at CBS, excusing his partiality as moral and intellectual superiority.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
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The three fundamental pillars of relative superiority are: • It is achieved at the pivotal moment of an engagement.—
Chris Harris,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The case out of Dedham, Massachusetts has turned into a years-long whodunnit legal saga that has garnered massive intrigue from true-crime fans across the country, spurring an array of podcasts, movies, and television shows.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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That decision does set up a show that could go on and on.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Eaton derives roughly 17% of its total revenues from data centers, according to the company’s 2025 growth assumptions.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
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Employees who challenge assumptions often face resistance from peers and leadership.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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