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
Tazheen Nizam,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 June 2026
The leaders who thrive won't be the ones who pretend to know exactly what's coming.
—
Laurel Donnellan,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Rebecca Flint Marx,
SELF,
20 Apr. 2026
In Silky Smooth, Liao explores the chaotic stages of adulthood, scheduling fun plans with tired friends, the unfair treatment of single people, being attracted to silly men, and the fear of being a role model to her pretend children.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretend
Verb
Our fear resurfaced days ago on the one-month anniversary, when another alert was issued after a man circled the Islamic Center pretending to possess an explosive device while displaying a Nazi flag.
—
Tazheen Nizam,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 June 2026
The leaders who thrive won't be the ones who pretend to know exactly what's coming.
—
Laurel Donnellan,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Adjective
Another uses a play food container from a child’s pretend kitchen.
—
Rebecca Flint Marx,
SELF,
20 Apr. 2026
In Silky Smooth, Liao explores the chaotic stages of adulthood, scheduling fun plans with tired friends, the unfair treatment of single people, being attracted to silly men, and the fear of being a role model to her pretend children.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretend
Verb
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The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
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The state averages about eight unprovoked bites each year, according to the FWC, which runs a statewide program to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.
Verb
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Sweden loses key piece The first half was a sloppy slugfest as both teams tried to use their physicality to assume control.
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John Murphy, president and chief financial officer, will assume the responsibilities in the interim, according to an announcement.
Adjective
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Vxhinqy Crossbody Phone Strap With a faux leather strap, this universal lanyard is made for travelers who want both comfort and security.
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Mavericks fans staged a faux funeral complete with a casket a day later in front of the Dirk Nowitzki statue outside American Airlines Center.
Adjective
-
In an age of visual and underground detection, why am I delayed at a traffic signal waiting for an imaginary vehicle to enter the intersection?
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This was long before the days of mo-cap or green screens, and acting with imaginary scene partners was far from the norm.
Verb
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For tour this time around, Pillsbury is looking forward to playing larger venues, which offer space for grander production.
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The elder Moniak, now 86, played six seasons in the Red Sox farm system from 1958-63, and like Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, was among the young outfielders who benefited from the tutelage of a special batting instructor named Ted Williams at spring training ‘61-63.
Verb
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But there’s no way to simulate all the variables of real life, particularly the weather.
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Instead of developing multiple aircraft designs or conducting thousands of expensive flight tests, engineers can simulate those scenarios digitally and rapidly iterate on designs.
Adjective
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To combat bots, Ticketmaster, the primary ticketing platform for many concerts, blocks automated software, identifies and shuts down fake accounts and cancels orders that violate its policies.
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No one called for a fake investigation on Key Lime.
Adjective
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The book traces the fictitious Yeoman family’s evolution over generations from self-sufficient homesteaders to participants in global markets.
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Hosting its usual presentation at its headquarters, located a stone’s throw from San Babila square, the brand installed video walls that broadcast a fictitious runway show created with the help of AI.
Cite this Entry
“Pretend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretend. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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