1
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
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2
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
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Recent Examples of pretends
That's the county JD Vance pretends to be from.
—
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
All about the fake Google security page Security researchers at Malwarebytes, a cybersecurity company, recently discovered a phishing website that pretends to be part of Google's account protection system.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Police said the man sometimes hangs around the Music Building and pretends to be a student.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
At Queenie’s salacious parties, most everyone pretends to be someone else.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
The hypocrite pretends to be good because the hypocrite believes that society admires good and condemns wrong.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Pierson pretends not to hear it.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Importantly, though, VanArendonk adds that Bluey’s messages are powerful because the show never pretends that there is no struggle.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
On that occasion, deprived of racing in the Olympics but not of his morality, Vladyslav Heraskevych personified the exact principles the Olympic movement pretends to defend.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
All about the fake Google security page Security researchers at Malwarebytes, a cybersecurity company, recently discovered a phishing website that pretends to be part of Google's account protection system.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Police said the man sometimes hangs around the Music Building and pretends to be a student.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
At Queenie’s salacious parties, most everyone pretends to be someone else.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
The hypocrite pretends to be good because the hypocrite believes that society admires good and condemns wrong.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Pierson pretends not to hear it.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Importantly, though, VanArendonk adds that Bluey’s messages are powerful because the show never pretends that there is no struggle.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
On that occasion, deprived of racing in the Olympics but not of his morality, Vladyslav Heraskevych personified the exact principles the Olympic movement pretends to defend.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretends
Verb
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The persistent jamming and spoofing activity in the region also poses key public safety concerns, according to Lisa Dyer, executive director of the GPS Innovation Alliance.—
Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Officers determine whether a person poses a danger based on behavior and condition.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Philippe Venet assumes de Givenchy’s position.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This math also assumes a 20% down payment.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hsu plays Joy, a morose daughter of two Chinese immigrants.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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When the Heat plays Herro and Powell together, Miami has been outscored by 26 points in 249 minutes this season.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This device simulates zero-G by flipping and disorienting the cells placed within it.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
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The fund leverages Project Prometheus, an AI system that simulates physical-world behavior, enabling engineers to test designs digitally instead of through costly physical prototyping.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the summer, celebrity beautician Iván Pol acts as resident facialist.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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Related to this selling pressure in gold is the strength in the dollar, which acts a safe haven currency in times of geopolitical conflict.—
Todd Gordon,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump often professes his support for farmers.—
Anthony Pahnke,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
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The upcoming exhibition's contemporary edge professes the importance of displaying Native American art of the present, to resist the erasure of living, thriving Indigenous American cultures and communities.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With his multi-instrumentalist bandmates, PJ Moore and co-songwriter Robert Bell, Buchanan zooms into these exchanges to prolong them or dissembles them into jagged pieces that leave the bigger picture to us.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Someone who’s really living the Andrew Tate-like lifestyle Jacob only feigns is his bestie Cameron (Dylan Playfair).—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
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The second man with a flail steps forward and feigns a move.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretends. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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