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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretending
Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
People just pretending, and so on.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Republicans are living in fantasy, pretending as if the issue will fix itself.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
One image appears to show the man in the ICE agent costume pretending to arrest another individual.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Lovato then followed it up with a TikTok of her pretending to be Poot, screaming for help and trying to get out of the garage.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Choose a reason, such as pretending to be someone else.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
White, by contrast, is pretending to be one of America’s greatest musical icons, even doing his own singing.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
There can be no more pretending, briefing or hiding.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
People just pretending, and so on.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Republicans are living in fantasy, pretending as if the issue will fix itself.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
One image appears to show the man in the ICE agent costume pretending to arrest another individual.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Lovato then followed it up with a TikTok of her pretending to be Poot, screaming for help and trying to get out of the garage.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Choose a reason, such as pretending to be someone else.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
White, by contrast, is pretending to be one of America’s greatest musical icons, even doing his own singing.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretending
Adjective
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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
-
The anti-American side focuses exclusively on the tragedies, usually makes slavery the chief argument for the prosecution, and dismisses the triumphs as hypocritical rhetoric.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the weeks after Asaanah was born, Tye White shared a sweet photo of his older daughter posing with her newborn sister.—
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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Some are praying, others are posing and the grandeur of the churches makes even the most dramatic of designer clothing look small — and spare.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lincoln Lab teams are currently using that creative power to fill gaps in weather data, spot anomalies in network traffic, and design new materials and medicines by simulating chemical interactions that would historically take months in a physical lab.—
Chelsea Haney
October 30,
New Atlas,
30 Oct. 2025
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China, the most dangerous party, has militarized the strait, launching large military drills simulating blockades of the island and daily incursions across the median line.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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In Avengers: Endgame (2019), Redford reprised his role as Alexander Pierce, a duplicitous S.H.I.E.L.D. official first introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Bucks did exactly what Antetokounmpo asked, playing the Warriors tough all night and eventually pulling out a win behind a career-high 32 points from Ryan Rollins.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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It’s taken time, Fonseca admits, to grow accustomed to playing in front of such raucous crowds.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With Kevin Gausman, José Berríos (assuming elbow health) and Trey Yesavage pencilled into starting spots next year, the Jays have at least two holes to fill.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Without context, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the Elena in question was not another author’s creation, but Messud’s own.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 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
-
However, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, felt Lorincz’s courtroom apology was insincere.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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Born June 25, 1925 in New York City, Lockhart began acting at age 8 with her stage debut in a 1933 production of Peter Ibbetson at the Metropolitan Opera House.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretending. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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