as in hypocritical
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1
as in posing
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 simulating
to present a false appearance of
as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pretending
Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
In the 43-part series, Monroe calls several churches and other places of worship pretending to be a mother in need of formula for her baby.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
Katy Perry is done pretending everything’s picture-perfect.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Prosecutors allege that Farwell worked to groom Birchmore early on, pretending to befriend the girl 12 years his junior by doing test prep with her at the library and friending her on Facebook.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The fact that Day proceeded to lie to Spielberg about it after the fact by pretending like the whole sketch was cut rather than just his cameo at the end.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
And finance companies aren’t even pretending to leave anymore.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
People just pretending, and so on.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
There can be no more pretending, briefing or hiding.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
However, Cena outsmarted him by grabbing the chair, throwing it next to Dom, and pretending to be down on the mat.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
In the 43-part series, Monroe calls several churches and other places of worship pretending to be a mother in need of formula for her baby.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
Katy Perry is done pretending everything’s picture-perfect.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Prosecutors allege that Farwell worked to groom Birchmore early on, pretending to befriend the girl 12 years his junior by doing test prep with her at the library and friending her on Facebook.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The fact that Day proceeded to lie to Spielberg about it after the fact by pretending like the whole sketch was cut rather than just his cameo at the end.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
And finance companies aren’t even pretending to leave anymore.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
People just pretending, and so on.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretending
Adjective
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Susan Shelley of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association blasted the pork-project spending as hypocritical, especially as some liberal groups and lawmakers support raising taxes or turning to voters to pass new bonds to prop up the state’s shaky finances.—
Wire Report,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement Of course, there is such a thing as being too bad—and too hypocritical.—
Shadi Hamid,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After his death, Aldean took to Instagram to pay tribute to the Turning Point USA CEO, sharing a photo of him and his wife posing alongside Kirk.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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After posing on the red carpet, Brown, Harbour and the rest of the cast took the stage inside the Chinese Theatre, where they were introduced by the series’ creators, Matt and Ross Duffer.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, Beijing has increased pressure on the island's leadership, including by staging large-scale exercises simulating a blockade.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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This specific model flipped riders on their stomachs at great heights and through several inversions, with the experience simulating flight.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Soon, the entire room was awash with clippings, each detailing a different duplicitous scheme — a depressing reflection of how scam culture was taking over my country, eroding our trust in each other.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
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For example, the Europeans have been unwilling to confiscate frozen Russian assets to raise more money for Ukraine, earning duplicitous praise from the Kremlin.—
VERONICA ANGHEL,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nobody will hold Gjoshe to his hopeful timescale of playing again within a month.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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What's the most difficult part of playing a character like Peter?—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As a result, Kansas City will rely on Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to continue sharing the load in the offensive backfield down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs -- assuming the Chiefs earn a place there come January.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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And that’s assuming that China, already Saudi’s biggest trade partner, doesn’t also look to partner with the kingdom on its metals ambitions and play spoiler to the West’s goal of creating an alternative.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Michelle comes across as an outright villain at first, talking almost exclusively in chilly, insincere corporate speak and treating her employees with passive-aggressive disregard.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
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However, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, felt Lorincz’s courtroom apology was insincere.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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During takeoff and subsonic flight, for example, an ACE can open extra bypass ducts, effectively acting like a turbofan, quieter and efficient.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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Outside of acting, Swit was a painter and a vocal animal rights activist.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretending. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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