1
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
he shows a pretended affection for his girlfriend's cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
hoped that his pretended interest in classical music would impress the boss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in posed
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
2
as in assumed
to present a false appearance of
as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretended
Sam Sacks, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022
The woman is long gone, so Freer has to imagine her consent — in a history so full of gaps, coercion, and disappearance, a pretended connection is better than none at all.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2022
No, seriously: People were very upset by these shoes, or at least pretended to be.
—Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 31 Aug. 2017
Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Prosecutors said Montejano pretended to be a teenage boy on Snapchat, asked the girls to meet him in a public area at the apartment complex before forcing the girls into his apartment.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Roberts got up and pretended to have an injury, while also revealing a sweatshirt that was covered in dirt.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
There, the former couple was posing on the red carpet, and Schumer pretended to trip and fall in front of them.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
The agents pretended not to know that the pilots spent their time jetting around Maduro and other top officials.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Among the key pieces of evidence presented at the proceedings was a phone call Donna Adelson made to Charles Adelson after an undercover FBI agent approached her and pretended to be affiliated with the murder plot.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
The rest of his Republican colleagues gleefully approved the bill and have pretended ever since that their vote was the right thing to do.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Tapping into his State Farm acting chops on fourth down while leading 7-0, Mahomes pretended to be frustrated with a Reid play-call before handing the ball off.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
What most activates Dunn’s rage is the misogyny that only deepened amid all the pretended freedoms of the counterculture.
—Sam Sacks, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022
The woman is long gone, so Freer has to imagine her consent — in a history so full of gaps, coercion, and disappearance, a pretended connection is better than none at all.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2022
No, seriously: People were very upset by these shoes, or at least pretended to be.
—Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 31 Aug. 2017
Verb
Donna recently moved to Orlando, to Bennie's chagrin – who has pretended not to remember her name.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Prosecutors said Montejano pretended to be a teenage boy on Snapchat, asked the girls to meet him in a public area at the apartment complex before forcing the girls into his apartment.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Roberts got up and pretended to have an injury, while also revealing a sweatshirt that was covered in dirt.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
There, the former couple was posing on the red carpet, and Schumer pretended to trip and fall in front of them.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
The agents pretended not to know that the pilots spent their time jetting around Maduro and other top officials.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Among the key pieces of evidence presented at the proceedings was a phone call Donna Adelson made to Charles Adelson after an undercover FBI agent approached her and pretended to be affiliated with the murder plot.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
The rest of his Republican colleagues gleefully approved the bill and have pretended ever since that their vote was the right thing to do.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Tapping into his State Farm acting chops on fourth down while leading 7-0, Mahomes pretended to be frustrated with a Reid play-call before handing the ball off.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretended
Adjective
-
What really makes the dress stand out is its chic details, which includes a structured seam around the waist, gold-tone decorative buttons, and a mock neckline.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The eye-rolling, groaning, mock-despair brings the group together.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 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
-
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
Verb
-
Energy expert Luc Pauwels told Belgian media that there was no danger posed by the drones and the reactors are designed to withstand aircraft impacts, from small planes to large passenger jets.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Before taking the stage together for their Drama Queens wrap party, the hosts posed with lucky fans for a photo op.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
More recently, Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist who assumed office in 2019, got along famously with the similarly minded Trump during the last two years of the American president’s first term.—
Ron Kampeas,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When preparing to host Thanksgiving, it's assumed that hand towels are going to be a necessity in both the kitchen, powder room, and guest bathrooms.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The data center explosion has created boom towns across the US, but strained grids and increased housing prices and energy costs.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Judge has been working to rebuild her strained relationship with Sidney for years.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
James Watson, who co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, has died at age 97.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Using what was known about biology at the time and X-ray images, the two determined that DNA had a double-helix structure - like a twisted ladder, with each rung made up of a pair of chemicals.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
While the Zambian government acted swiftly to neutralize acidity and launch investigations, critics say its response has been too lenient and slow to hold the firm fully accountable.—
Elisha Iragi,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Debbie Allen, who produced, directed, and acted in the OG series, will direct three episodes of the continuation, including the premiere.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And when daily wear and tear was simulated – through continuous electric-toothbrush abrasion equivalent to about a year of brushing, as well as chewing and grinding – the teeth actually had superior resistance to wear, fracture and acid attack compared with natural enamel.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Nov. 2025
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In this latest study, Parise simulated a grid of these detectors spread across visual and auditory space.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretended. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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