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pretend

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adjective

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pretend contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pretend are affect, assume, counterfeit, feign, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

Where would affect be a reasonable alternative to pretend?

In some situations, the words affect and pretend are roughly equivalent. However, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

When might assume be a better fit than pretend?

Although the words assume and pretend have much in common, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

In what contexts can counterfeit take the place of pretend?

The meanings of counterfeit and pretend largely overlap; however, counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

How does the word feign relate to other synonyms for pretend?

Feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When is sham a more appropriate choice than pretend?

The words sham and pretend can be used in similar contexts, but sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When can simulate be used instead of pretend?

While in some cases nearly identical to pretend, simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

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 pretend
Verb
For the moment, Bail Organa is alive and well, and there to assist Mon Mothma in her extremely public, defiant exit from the Senate, and from pretending to be anything but vehemently opposed to everything the Empire does and stands for. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2025 Chapman pretended to be a tenant at a residence in Miami, according to court records. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
Adjective
Note: the premier seaview studio is perfect for a pretend, lusty honeymoon escape as the oversized king bed was positioned for maximum sea-view appreciation (and espresso in bed in the mornings). Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 Bradford then pops Welch's pretend belly waking her up from that dream. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretend
Verb
  • Canadian fires won’t pose the only smoke risk for the US as wildfire risks ramp up in the western states in the summer, too.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
  • The pope and Sinner posed for photos in front of the Davis Cup trophy that Sinner helped Italy win for the second consecutive time last year.
    Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • In order to be approved for any of those products, a borrower needs a strong credit profile, and the willingness and ability to assume more debt.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • States like Florida could be forced to assume billions in costs for health care and disaster preparedness.
    Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • This depends on the material, but faux leather is usually less susceptible to damage from steam.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • Our feeds are flooded with faux news and half-truths, designed to prop up confirmation biases and advance political agendas.
    Slaine, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • The imaginary elements of the story — the witches, and the university — stem from growing up with my father, and reading novels by Julio Verne and Emilio Salgari.
    Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
  • New York is a realm of fantasy and myth, obsession and resentment, fear and bewilderment for many who’ve never set foot in it; and many who live here also purvey and perpetuate some version of the imaginary city.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • While physicians don’t have a definitive answer as to why heart failure typically causes cognitive decline, the following factors may play a role: Changes to the heart.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 16 May 2025
  • In his new Max series premiering Thursday, Duster, Holloway plays an Arizona getaway driver in the early 1970s.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Resilience Testing Through Chaos Engineering A compelling example of living intelligence in cloud and DevOps is Netflix’s Chaos Engineering platform, which simulates real-world failures to proactively test system resilience.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • It’s based on 5,000 conversations that simulate interactions between individual users or clinicians and AI models.
    Annika Kim Constantino,Ashley Capoot,Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2025
  • YouTube has further cracked down on fake movie trailer channels.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • The two stars of the Emmy-winning 1990s romantic comedy series Northern Exposure, set in the zany fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska, are adding their names to the avalanche of television stars binging their old shows, offering commentary about the storylines and sharing behind-the-scenes tales.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 6 May 2025
  • Later on, Weekend Update featured a trio of guest appearances from Bowen Yang who resurrected his recurring Chinese trade minister Chen Biao, Emil Wakim and his notes on American patriotism and Sarah Sherman as Jost’s fictitious accountant Dawn Altman.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pretend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretend. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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