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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pretend
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
With the wild, feel-good vibes of Jack Black pretending to be a certified teacher and a classroom full of middle schoolers desperate for a little fun (private school uniforms will do that to a kid), the film is pure chaos, in the best way possible.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
From brooms and mops to wooden dress-up sets with magnets to dollhouses and animal playsets, Melissa & Doug have lots of choices of pretend play toys.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend
Verb
The protagonist meets Charlie, a girl who asks her to pretend to be her girlfriend and becomes her aid in finishing a scavenger hunt that her mother left behind.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
With the wild, feel-good vibes of Jack Black pretending to be a certified teacher and a classroom full of middle schoolers desperate for a little fun (private school uniforms will do that to a kid), the film is pure chaos, in the best way possible.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Details about the recalled Farm to Table play kitchen
The Farm to Table play kitchen is designed for pretend play and is intended for children 3 years or older.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
From brooms and mops to wooden dress-up sets with magnets to dollhouses and animal playsets, Melissa & Doug have lots of choices of pretend play toys.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretend
Verb
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The fire is assumed to have been sparked by lightning.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The reintroduction team assumed most of the population would settle in the southern third of Indiana, where large reservoirs and river systems create ample habitat.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Subtle bits of faux wheat give it additional texture, and there’s an attached loop in the back for easy hanging.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Pair the duo with fairy lights, a thin linen runner, and more faux foliage to create a stunning seasonal scene.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Steve Young lifts his arm, holding an imaginary football, preparing to throw.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Moreover, her five-letter titles refer to satellite navigation waypoints and fixes for aircraft flying in clouds or at night, that offer passage to imaginary locations defined by the interception of magnetic vectors drawn from the earth’s poles.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, that isn’t a factor when considering how hard and inspired the Broncos played in front of a ninth straight sellout crowd at Albertsons Stadium.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Though his interests were that of a pretty typical child — computing and gaming, playing the saxophone, enjoying soccer and time with his pets — he was also known for his acts of kindness and generosity.—
Lauren Costantino
September 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each device undergoes reliability tests that simulate outdoor environments—dust exposure, water sprays, vibrations, and rapid temperature cycles—to make sure performance remains stable.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
In 2003, the city of Chicago participated in TOPOFF 2, a national terrorism response exercise simulating a radiological attack in Seattle and the release of pneumonic plague in Chicago.—
Lauren Buitta,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert earlier in 2025 to encourage parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with responding to a fake text.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
To make Reen feel comfortable and truly welcomed, Long’s entire extended family wore fake tattoo sleeves to the reunion.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As Newton soon learned, there is a long runway between playing a fictitious, Regency-era ladies’ man and becoming one of the most recognizable designers in pop culture.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vogue,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The film is set in New Mexico, in the fictitious title town—population of two thousand four hundred and thirty-five, according to a road sign—where the election year sees the mayor also up for reëlection.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretend. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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