1
as in to pose
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
I pretended that I didn't care that my ex had a new man in her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to assume
to present a false appearance of
as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in faux
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
if you were to see the movie's pretend jewels in real life, you wouldn't be fooled for a minute
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
it's just a pretend gun, so please pretend that I got you and play dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pretend
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
Complications ensue and, hidden by a big veil, Ziva steps in as the pretend bride to keep the trap alive.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend
Verb
Katy Perry is done pretending everything’s picture-perfect.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
As a promotion for the This Is Spinal Tap sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, the pretend British band collaborated with the very real British rocker Elton John for a new version of the fan favorite.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
Complications ensue and, hidden by a big veil, Ziva steps in as the pretend bride to keep the trap alive.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretend
Verb
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After his death, Aldean took to Instagram to pay tribute to the Turning Point USA CEO, sharing a photo of him and his wife posing alongside Kirk.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Wireless systems also pose new safety risks, such as stray magnetic fields, fire hazards, and heating of metal objects, requiring further research and development (R&D) and stricter standardization.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Before Hamilton assumed the role in 2004, Robert Linn served as the GOP mayor from 1946 to 2004.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement Whether out of unconscious sexism, his infatuation with her, or both, Lee was catastrophically wrong in assuming that Betty Jo was an innocent victim in the Washberg affair.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Heathyoga Pleated Dress Pants Heathyoga cozy-fied the idea of a classic dress pant with an elastic waistband, faux back pockets, real side pockets, a faux fly, and belt loops.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
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The bootie slippers are covered in a striking microwool and lined with pillowy faux fur that’s super warming.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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One way to represent a complex number like a + ib is as a point on a plane, where a is the position on the x-axis (which can be thought of as the real number line) and b is the position on an imaginary y-axis.—
Daniel Garisto,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
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For example, the tests measure AI’s ability to fix inconsistencies in customer invoices Excel spreadsheets for an imaginary sales analyst role, or AI’s ability to create a full production schedule for a 60-second video shoot for an imaginary video producer.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Besides Adebayo, Miami’s only other available center was two-way contract player Vlad Goldin, who arrived from a G-League assignment but did not play.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
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The three titles that were won with fewer than 90 points were wrapped up with at least three games still to play, which led to an easing off in the final weeks.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The site can be used to simulate flight environments that can be used for hypersonic weapon development, according to a university notice.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement The August 2025 report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, argued that states should prohibit the use of drills that simulate an active shooter being in the school, as well as sensorial drills.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Punter Sean West — whose long 24-yard heave on a fake punt outgained every quarterback on the roster.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Green expertly applies fake eyelashes, thick foundation and a dessert brown eye look, while Messina goes to work piling tight curls atop my head.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In a white Ford Expedition with exempt plates and red emergency lights, Farzam stopped at a checkpoint manned by the National Guard on January 17 and presented a document showing the vehicle was registered to the fictitious Santa Muerte Fire Department, prosecutors said.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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The film is set in a version of America that, while fictitious, still feels distinctly American.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretend. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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