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 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 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 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 Marks was also charged with obtaining property under false pretenses and misdemeanor larceny. — Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretenses

Noun

Europe has long resisted air conditioning as noisy, an eyesore on architectural facades and unnecessary, as brutal summer heat has been relatively short-lived.

— Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026
But while Duval Street’s colorful facades and lively restaurants attract the crowds, the best seat in town is arguably offshore.

— Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of facades

Noun

The UConn Foundation will be looking for naming-rights revenue opportunities for the fields, which will allow the team to work outdoors more often.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Carlson opted to test free agency and signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the Ducks dealt his rights to the Carolina Hurricanes.

— Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of rights

Noun

As many as 476,000 people a year in the US may be diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease, an estimate based on insurance claims data, as cases may be underreported.

— Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has claimed that both of the drivers attempted to run over law enforcement agents, but has not provided evidence to back up those claims.

— Philip Wang, Time, 14 July 2026

Definition of claims

Noun

Two Lionel Messi shows followed — including his setting of the all-time World Cup goals record.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Others pointed out the selective nature of making a big statement about arrests at a Phish concert, while most other shows go unremarked upon.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026

Definition of shows

Noun

At 61, unaligned to any party faction and with no pretensions to the highest office, the Scot would represent little threat to Burnham.

— Ian King, CNBC, 15 July 2026
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

Definition of pretensions

Noun

Fox execs, it has been reported, feel NBCU has maneuvered around the restrictions and has an unfair route to viewers through Peacock, an English-language service where Telemundo programming airs.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 July 2026
The new episode of Baylen Out Loud airs Tuesday, July 14 at 9 pm ET on TLC.

— Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Definition of airs

Noun

Growing awareness of the dangers social media poses for young, developing brains has shown up in a wave of new restrictions globally.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
In photos from his visit to the festival in Warwickshire, England, Harry could be seen doing a variety of poses on his yoga mat while surrounded by curious goats and children wearing matching shirts.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026

Definition of poses

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“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of pretenses

noun

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