variants
or pretences
1
as in facades
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
her display of bravado was just a pretense
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rights
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretenses
For all the Court’s pretenses—all of its insistence on the rule of law, precedent, and good faith—many critics and supporters of the Roberts Court see the institution as an appendage of the Republican Party.
—
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Garcia-Hernandez was arrested on charges of theft of an elder adult, obtaining money by false pretenses, and attempted grand theft, along with an out-of-county warrant.
—Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 4 June 2026
According to Placer Superior Court filings, one false pretenses count and the personal identifying information charge stemmed from a June 21, 2025, incident.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 20 May 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
In the documentary, a man running the shelter, who identified himself as Charles Lubajja, tells the undercover reporters that the shelter exists primarily to make money from social media users abroad under false pretenses.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Maybe Thalia had come to Gilead under false pretenses and gotten caught.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Marks was also charged with obtaining property under false pretenses and misdemeanor larceny.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Authorities said the gun had been purchased under false pretenses in Indiana.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Garcia-Hernandez was arrested on charges of theft of an elder adult, obtaining money by false pretenses, and attempted grand theft, along with an out-of-county warrant.
—Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 4 June 2026
According to Placer Superior Court filings, one false pretenses count and the personal identifying information charge stemmed from a June 21, 2025, incident.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 20 May 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
In the documentary, a man running the shelter, who identified himself as Charles Lubajja, tells the undercover reporters that the shelter exists primarily to make money from social media users abroad under false pretenses.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Maybe Thalia had come to Gilead under false pretenses and gotten caught.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Marks was also charged with obtaining property under false pretenses and misdemeanor larceny.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Authorities said the gun had been purchased under false pretenses in Indiana.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretenses
Noun
-
Narrow lanes wind past jewelry shops, rum bars and pastel facades.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
-
In Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, a small Section 8 housing community of 17 buildings stands out for its bright blue facades.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The demonstration, which had been previously organized by a hodgepodge of activist groups after weeks of negotiations with local authorities, was otherwise peaceful — with environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, supporters of Palestinians and foes of imperialism, fascism and capitalism.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
The union will protect educators' academic freedom rights, keeping faculty expertise in teaching, research, and publication at the forefront.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Footballing success, in differing guises, came a long time ago.—
Adam Leventhal,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Opponents of affirmative action, who suspect that the process is still continuing under other guises, could seek to replicate the winning strategy of the Harvard and UNC cases, if testing data show large, unexplainable gaps in academic preparation among different student groups.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Draper contested the claims and denied all wrongdoing and criticized the Commission on Judicial Performance.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
According to the Comcast settlement website, the settlement is now open for claims, and current or former customers who received a breach notification from Comcast in December 2023 may be eligible for a payout.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
The program includes Missoni and tailoring atelier Saman Amel trunk shows, and multi-brand personal shopping experiences.—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
-
After rape allegations on Married At First Sight UK rocked the UK television industry, there has been a growing conversation about how welfare is administered on major reality shows.—
Emma Pringle,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge, who converted to Christianity late in his life, pointed out that Jesus’s entire ministry was directed against the pretensions of earthly power.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
-
Adley and his team make great tasting plates first and foremost, but some of the items, like the unmissable chicken wings stuffed with boudin blanc and romesco, act as a cheeky affront to haute cuisine’s pretensions and conventions.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Audiences hold influence over how reality television is marketed, experienced and discussed, prompting franchises to communicate with viewers before, during and after a season airs.—
Jacqueline Jevtich,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Taskmaster airs on Channel 4 in the UK and the format has proven popular internationally, with numerous local versions up and running.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
On Saturday, Biondo was one of 511 people who drew attention to the long-term threat climate change poses to the sport by simultaneously juggling a football for ten seconds in Miami Beach’s Lummus Park, setting a new Guinness World Record.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
Plan different outfits and poses, and take pictures outside or around town.—
Parents,
Parents,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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