PRETENCES Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

pretenses

noun

variants or pretences

plural of pretense

as in facades

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rights

an entitlement to something this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of pretenses Conference expansion has shattered pretenses to regional coherence. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 The strategic mistake of invading Iraq on false pretenses was then compounded by tactical errors. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Johnson created the story of Nancy (Emilia Jones), who is not a girlfriend, but a crush who Bourdain foolhardily (and under false pretenses) follows to Provincetown after not getting a writing fellowship. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2026 Trimpey also faces a felony charge of obtaining money by false pretenses. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 At school, Jin’s oldest daughter, Jane, teams up with a Black classmate, one of few, to expose their neighbors’ prejudices and pretenses. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Fernando Navarro, 53, of Minneapolis, is facing four counts of felony fraud for collecting nearly $70,000 in funds from Minnesota's medical assistance program under false pretenses. — Riley Moser, CBS News, 23 June 2026 However, according to Ryan, Hernandez was a fraud, allegedly seeking money under false pretenses. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 18 June 2026 Officials allege the group sold the oil under false pretenses and used the profits to sustain and expand the original food fraud scheme. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretenses

Noun

Isaias peeled off hotel and condominium rooftops and facades along the Florida Panhandle before charging north Saturday, dishing out torrential rains and the threat of flash floods and tornadoes across the Southeast.

— Emilie Megnien, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Set the scene The Pinch sits on King Street’s popular north-south artery of clothing shops, wine bars, palm trees, and decorative facades.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of facades

Noun

The company is using the market to find partners for investment, co-development and distribution, as well as rights licensing deals.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Joining will be the film’s star Ruth Madeley, who plays real-life American disability rights activist Judith Heumann, and casting directors Bernard Telsey and Adam Caldwell.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of rights

Noun

Throughout the weekend, Dudamel embraced the worlds of Hollywood, Latin music in many guises and old-fashioned rock.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
With their traditional, legacy rivals — the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur — in various guises of transition, Arsenal are suddenly the team to beat and the Emirates is suddenly a library of sound; noise please.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of guises

Noun

Gilbert shared a post to his Instagram story responding to the outcry from fans of the actor over the weekend, addressing claims that Danny is pro-ICE or supports Shapiro’s politics.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The probe found no criminal wrongdoing, at which point Spitzer shifted to negotiating towards a civil disposition with GKN and announced the claims program.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of claims

Noun

At the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, curator John Fields has built a renowned space for visual art, attracting a kaleidoscope of artists and shows over the course of his 12-year tenure.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Social media and the rise of influencers transformed the streets outside the shows into a stage of their own.

— Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of shows

Noun

The author behind the singular Elizabeth Zott returns with ‘Peck & Peck,’ a sharp, charming satire on the pretensions and perils of literary gatekeepers.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Their trading volume, political influence and public profiles have expanded — as have their pretensions.

— W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of pretensions

Noun

The tournament, while not officially sanctioned as an ATP event, features some of the top players in the world vying for millions of dollars and airs live on Netflix.

— Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Earlier this year, the CMA and ABC announced an extension of your partnership to run through 2032 and includes streaming the CMA Awards on Disney+ for the first time simultaneously as the show airs on ABC.

— Melinda Newman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of airs

Noun

So Sherman bought a bunch of funky fabric and cheap rhinestone jewelry and recreated the poses herself, as only the great artist of our postmodern age could.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
Her solo stage program was made from a highly imaginative, eclectic selection of traditional pan-Asian references, poses, and gestures.

— Thomas Patier, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of poses

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“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pretenses

noun

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