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
Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
To this day, there are no rib bones involved, and McDonald’s doesn’t pretend there are.
—Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 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
The actor would come in and pretend to be your dad, sister or brother, and for that experience, every day, every moment is improvisation.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
To this day, there are no rib bones involved, and McDonald’s doesn’t pretend there are.
—Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Back in the day, Dick was the duo’s straight man; Tom was the pretend naïf who got the best lines and, backstage, served as the act’s guiding hand.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 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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Most of the world's volcanoes that pose a risk to humans already have detailed maps of their interiors, but not Popocatépetl, despite the fact that some 25 million people live within a 62-mile radius and houses, schools, hospitals and five airports could be affected by an eruption.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
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Officers also are prohibited from firing their weapons at people who pose only a threat to themselves, and cannot fire from a moving vehicle, unless in urgent circumstances.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Treaties assume shared values, stable circumstances, and mutual benefit.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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The video quickly went viral, reaching over 2 million views with many viewers assuming the image was authentic.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For maximum coziness, the Skechers Women’s Cozy Escape Snow Puff Slip-ins are like a hug for your feet, with memory foam cushioning and faux fur trim lining the booties.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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Featuring a soft faux fur lining and non-slip rubber outsoles, these slides are sure to become your go-to shoes for cozy days at home.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
As players shoot around, Jake cradles a ball before blowing past an imaginary defender to hammer home a dunk.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Peat fit in well with Arizona’s veteran lineup, as the freshman didn’t force the issue and played within the offense.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Jan. 2026
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Guys were playing hard, everybody on that drive was doing their job, and getting guys down on the ground.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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So a common approach is to use a computer to simulate the fluid’s motion and get an approximate sense of the conditions that seem to produce a blowup.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
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The device features an 8-inch curved OLED display that renders a holographic 3D companion designed to simulate emotional intimacy.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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 11 Jan. 2026.
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