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
Kif Leswing, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Other times the chasers have pretended to be the COVID-19 virus.
—Rebekah Willett, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
When asked by director Marina Zenovich if there was a time when Chase walked away from his mother and stepfather and never saw them again, Chase pretended to swat a fly on his forehead, then licked his fingers as if eating the imaginary bug.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026
Monroe County Sheriff's Office said while this incident involved a request for Bitcoin, there have been previous incidents where scammers who targeted Monroe County residents pretended to be law enforcement officers and demanded payments via gift cards or electronic cash transfer applications.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The Biden White House for months pretended the problem didn’t exist.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
One research assistant pretended to dream about a flood and receive psychic messages; one of Festinger’s co-authors, Henry Riecken, was revered by the group’s leaders.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
The deputy clerk pretended to hire an IT consultant, used the individual's name and Social Security number to pass a background check and acquire a security clearance and access badge, according to prosecutors.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Dec. 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
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
Humanoid robots shadowboxed, danced and pretended to run small shops.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Other times the chasers have pretended to be the COVID-19 virus.
—Rebekah Willett, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
When asked by director Marina Zenovich if there was a time when Chase walked away from his mother and stepfather and never saw them again, Chase pretended to swat a fly on his forehead, then licked his fingers as if eating the imaginary bug.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026
Monroe County Sheriff's Office said while this incident involved a request for Bitcoin, there have been previous incidents where scammers who targeted Monroe County residents pretended to be law enforcement officers and demanded payments via gift cards or electronic cash transfer applications.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The Biden White House for months pretended the problem didn’t exist.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
One research assistant pretended to dream about a flood and receive psychic messages; one of Festinger’s co-authors, Henry Riecken, was revered by the group’s leaders.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
The deputy clerk pretended to hire an IT consultant, used the individual's name and Social Security number to pass a background check and acquire a security clearance and access badge, according to prosecutors.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Dec. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretended
Adjective
-
The semi-annual sale includes so many elegant staples, such as mock-neck cardigans, jackets with unique embellishments, and comfortable pants that look super polished — all starting at just $20.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
She’s arrived early for her first shift and has already started the residents and med students on some training by way of mock codes.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
What led to Martin University's downfall Trustees say that Martin's mission to educate a dwindling number of lower-income students has posed a severe financial challenge.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the 12 and a half years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and the two since Sir Jim Ratcliffe assumed control of the club’s football operations, United have evidently not become a better football club.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
That same year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created and assumed control of the program.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Interactions with his wife’s family remain strained; to this day, no one has told 99-year-old Nana that Webster was in prison.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
That reunion marked the first time that the father and son had seen each other in 19 months amid their strained relationship.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These ones elevate the trend — pun intended — with comfortable platform soles and double side stripe appliqués.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
McDonald's has made the Big Arch — a massive double-patty burger — a permanent menu item in the United Kingdom and Ireland.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ohio's state House passed the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act in late 2025, but has not been acted on in the state Senate.—
Jolene Almendarez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities acted swiftly, issuing an urgent public alert and launching a search in the woods near her home.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The island has been under growing pressure from Beijing, which encircled it last week in a large-scale military exercise that simulated a blockade.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
5 Jan. 2026
-
And in a bit of parade magic, the creatives at AES also crafted the float with a pair of transporter pods made from golden red millet and blue statice that simulated sci-fi tech using a set of twins dressed in red Starfleet uniforms.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretended. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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