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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretended
Adjective
-
The prelaunch test involves conducting a mock launch countdown and fueling the SLS with 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants that are later drained.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Lipshutz has covered iconic artists such as Taylor Swift, U2 and Lorde as a music journalist for over a decade, while guiding Billboard‘s editorial strategy across pop and mock music.—
THR Staff,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But the fake ads include the swindler’s contact information instead of the real landlord’s.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The cards were left in several cars abandoned after their occupants were arrested by ICE agents earlier this week in Eagle County, during what Sánchez described as fake traffic stops.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
San Jose police Chief Paul Joseph said the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Mohamed Husien of Davis, posed an immediate and deadly threat after a four-day crime spree that included armed robberies, carjackings and multiple exchanges of gunfire with law enforcement across Northern California.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The deal to secure TikTok’s future has been finalized after a yearslong effort to address concerns that the platform posed a national security risk.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
23 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
-
When personal relationships become strained or neglected, that pressure spreads.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Ware returned to Miami on Thursday for further treatment on his strained hamstring and will miss the rest of the Heat’s West Coast trip that has two games remaining on Saturday against the Jazz and Sunday against the Suns.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 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
-
Missal, who has acted in the series as Bree since the first season, appears to be single.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security has said the agent acted in self-defense.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
20 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 24 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
