Thesaurus results for PRETENDS

pretends

verb

present tense third-person singular of pretend

as in poses

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

Relevance

as in assumes

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 pretends Robin pretends to play with the moon but becomes worried when the moon gets stuck in a tree. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 This time around, Demna seemed to be speaking more earnestly about glamour and style, and to a customer base that fashion often pretends is not there. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026 Even a tween or teen who pretends not to enjoy Advent calendars anymore can’t resist the allure of discovering which emotional support pal will pop out. — Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 17 Sep. 2026 However, because that group is about 50% white, Dan Le Batard has an issue — or pretends to. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026 At one point, though, Jon Hamm does the voice of the mayor but there’s a robot who pretends to be him and is essentially wearing a mayor-skin suit. — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026 And Brand New Day pretends to tell that story, for about 20 minutes. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Ariane lies to him and pretends to be an experienced dame and never reveals her real name. — Air Mail, 18 July 2026 The show only pretends to be organized around romantic couples. — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretends

Verb

The study did not examine cognitively healthy people and does not suggest that glucosamine poses a risk to those who take it for joint health.

— Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Dozens of flights to and from Catalina Island have crashed over the years, with pilots saying the airport poses its share of challenges.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of poses

Verb

Beyond serving as an incentive and accountability mechanism in the human academic research ecosystem, there are commercial incentives for discovery, and credit plays a different role in that setting.

— Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Park Hae-il plays the head of a newspaper’s social affairs desk, and Lee Min-ho a rookie reporter.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of plays

Verb

Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates how light travels and interacts with surfaces to produce realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
Here, what lies indoors simulates the beauty of the natural world.

— Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of simulates

Verb

Middleton spent Wednesday with the West Sussex Minibus, which acts as a vital lifeline for people who cannot easily access public transport due to isolation, mobility challenges or financial barriers, and those aided by the organization’s services.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
The surgeon general typically acts as the nation’s top public health educator and is expected to communicate information on how to stay healthy.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of acts

Verb

In the following episode, Maggie professes her love to Lizzie.

— Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
The exhibit, which professes to illustrate storytelling through art in its earliest manifestations, is a jarring introduction to a museum that houses 1,300 original works.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of professes

Verb

Linney’s Guardian tries to draw out some resentment from her new candidate, but John expresses (or feigns) sympathy for Hal, who was betrayed by his father figure Sinestro, an experience John likens to his own complicated upbringing.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
The heavy side part feigns an almost asymmetrical look, which offsets heaviness on the ends and frames the face in a fun way.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

Definition of feigns

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pretending

pretends

pretense

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“Pretends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretends. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pretends

verb

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