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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretenses
Noun
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With facades facing Seventh Avenue, 498 and 500 Seventh Avenue promised a future for America’s fashion capitol and over time, helped chart the success of Norman Norell, Bill Blass, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren, among others.
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Decorative limestone and sandstone moldings adorned the building’s facades, while columns made from the same materials enhanced its splendor.
Noun
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The executive director of Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, Cassie Schwerner, said her family has followed voting rights through their ups and downs.
-
The march stems from the violent 1969 police raid of the Stonewall Inn that catalyzed the gay rights movement at a time when many people who were LGBTQIA+ hid their identity.
Noun
-
Footballing success, in differing guises, came a long time ago.
-
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.
Noun
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However, virtually the same day after Trump makes such triumphant claims, Iranian leaders deny that those things have been agreed upon.
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The government says the land is privately owned, but rival claims over its privatization have emerged.
Noun
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The guild received a record number of submissions for its 13th annual celebration of outstanding creative visual contributions of location professionals in contemporary and period films and TV shows, along with commercials and film commissions from around the world.
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How have your previous live shows influenced the direction of this tour?
Noun
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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.
-
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.
Noun
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General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC (check your local listings), with episodes also streaming on Hulu.
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There is no standardized way to calculate the worldwide audience for a tournament that airs on different channels and platforms across multiple countries.
Noun
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The entire cast is part of an underground ballroom competition, going claw to claw in matchups that rank the best poses, death drops, outfits, name brands, and choreography.
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The choice Lind poses—wages and Social Security, or a capital stake—is a false one.
Cite this Entry
“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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