1
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
he shows a pretended affection for his girlfriend's cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
In late 2025, an East Los Angeles woman shared a message with the public, pleading for the return of a necklace holding her late daughter's ashes, which was stolen when a woman pretended to ask her for directions and hugged her in return.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Her 9-year-old sister, Mary Katherine Smart, pretended to be asleep as Mitchell threatened her older sister with a knife.
—Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
That's something even Tesla has only pretended to do.
—Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Moton, covered in Liuzzo’s blood, pretended to be dead, then set off to find help after the men departed.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Young Mu-hee pretended not to remember what happened to her mother and father, thinking then her aunt and uncle might love her.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Rudd then pretended to be in severe pain as paramedics hauled him away, presumably to a hospital.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
Other times the chasers have pretended to be the COVID-19 virus.
—Rebekah Willett, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
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
Best of all, Andrew Guest and Daniel Destin Cretton’s limited series is dependent on and a showcase for its two leads in ways previous Marvel projects only pretended to be.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
In late 2025, an East Los Angeles woman shared a message with the public, pleading for the return of a necklace holding her late daughter's ashes, which was stolen when a woman pretended to ask her for directions and hugged her in return.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Her 9-year-old sister, Mary Katherine Smart, pretended to be asleep as Mitchell threatened her older sister with a knife.
—Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
That's something even Tesla has only pretended to do.
—Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Moton, covered in Liuzzo’s blood, pretended to be dead, then set off to find help after the men departed.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Young Mu-hee pretended not to remember what happened to her mother and father, thinking then her aunt and uncle might love her.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Rudd then pretended to be in severe pain as paramedics hauled him away, presumably to a hospital.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
Other times the chasers have pretended to be the COVID-19 virus.
—Rebekah Willett, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretended
Adjective
-
The mock drafts have already started pouring in from national draft experts.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Ten days before Wagler dropped 46 points on Purdue on just 17 shots, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had the former Shawnee Mission Northwest star going 18th overall in his latest NBA mock draft.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
At one point, Melania is shown watching television coverage of the proceedings on CNN, apparently unconcerned that the network only traffics in fake news.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities have said the backpack contained a ghost gun, fake IDs, a notebook and other writings detailing Mangione’s grievances against the private health care system in the United States.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Milford residents continue to face threats posed by storms and coastal flooding each hurricane season, causing many residents, like Covaleski and Digris to elevate their homes.—
Maleena Muzio,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Kazakhstan’s flag was unfurled on the court at Rod Laver Arena after Rybakina had paraded the trophy around and posed for photos with her team.—
John Pye,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Alongside fellow co-owner John Mara, Tisch assumed control of the team in 2005 after his father had purchased a majority stake in the team in 1991.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The 63-year-old New Mexico native with deep Dallas ties officially assumed leadership of North Texas’ largest business group earlier this month.—
Trevor Bach,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The strained awkwardness of Adelina and Alban’s gestures of generosity underscore the class disparity between the city dwellers and their relatives.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel were already severely strained after South Africa — a longtime supporter of the Palestinian people — accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in a case at the United Nations’ top court.—
Gerald Imray,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Also consider thrifting Christmas décor, such as red or pink bows, which serve double-duty during the holidays.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Their inability to execute in the margins proved the difference in a 98-97, double-overtime loss to Indiana.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No federal officials have provided evidence suggesting Pretti acted violently toward federal agents in Minneapolis.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security said the agent acted in self-defense while attempting to disarm Pretti.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each component is first simulated, then fabricated, and finally tested.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Oscar-winning actress later simulated shooting a ping-pong ball out of herself.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretended. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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