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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
-
The most important stories of Jesus’ life, the Nativity and Passion, are etched into the basilica’s east and west facades.—
Joseph Wilson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
The 18 towers represent different figures from scripture including the apostles, evangelists and Virgin Mary while the three facades depict the life of Jesus along with his death and final judgment.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s move to restrain states’ actions on AI drew criticism from members of both political parties and civil liberties and consumer rights groups who worried that banning state regulation would amount to a gift to AI giants, who enjoy little to no oversight.—
Marc Levy,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
-
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
Noun
-
And anyway, what was so embarrassing about loving all of someone, in their many guises and contradictions?—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Philo introduced the Luggage bag in 2010 as part of her first collection for Celine, and it has since been marketed in multiple sizes and guises, including a version with flaring gussets known as the Luggage Phantom.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Though Verbund did invest in a start-up using agents for grid optimization, there was no evidence of the above claims.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Live shows are still happening just about every night of the week.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
The actor has previously starred in several movies and TV shows — including The Crow, Tom & Jerry, Heavyweight and This Town.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Few things jar the delicate pretensions of the cocktail sophisticate so much as a drink with a chicken on top.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Even Arafat’s pretensions during Oslo were a lie.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
More often, franchises communicate with audiences 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
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The westward-looking Façade of the Passion is stark, its figures tormented, their bodies strained in angular poses.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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