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TAKE THE QUIZpretense
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
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2
as in act
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
her display of bravado was just a pretense
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3
as in pretension
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
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Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 5 Dec. 2022.
More from Merriam-Webster on pretense
Nglish: Translation of pretense for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pretense for Arabic Speakers
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