variants
or pretence
1
as in affectation
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case
she seemed to be a very down-to-earth woman who was completely free of pretense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
her display of bravado was just a pretense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in right
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
the pretense of that woman in thinking that the other hotel guests should be inconvenienced just for her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretense
People finally get to see me, and there's no pretense about that.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
In 2024, any remaining pretense of saving energy disappeared.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The food is serious and creative but served without pretense.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
In 2024, any remaining pretense of saving energy disappeared.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The food is serious and creative but served without pretense.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
-
Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
-
For the most part though, For the First Time, Again is weighed down by oversinging and emotional affectation.—
Millan Verma,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Scandals and secrets will be revealed, facades will crumble, and families and friendships will change forever on both sides of the battlefield as this group of strong, game-changing influencers comes together to build their answer to #MomTok.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The family room offers three walls of windows, a fireplace with an authentic late-1800s cast-iron facade, granite mantel and a polished nickel and crystal drum chandelier.—
Saleema Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That element may now get its wish as soon as our upcoming June primary, effectively prioritizing the narrow ideology of a few hundred party loyalists over the fundamental voting rights of hundreds of thousands of independent citizens.—
Kent Thiry,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The right to mock, to challenge, and yes, to offend those in power, is foundational to democracy.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The doctor further explained that the traits of a narcissist encompass low empathy, arrogance, entitlement, grandiosity and pathological selfishness.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
They both, in a good way, reek of confidence – not arrogance but confidence.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Service feels attentive without formality or pretension.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Electric Bleu is a testament to the reality that food can be technically precise and expertly executed, without the pretension and toxicity so often associated with fine dining kitchens.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During the partisan press era in the United States, news organizations aligned themselves politically and presented news from a specific partisan point of view, without the guise of objectivity.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Then, in the late nineteenth century, the mandolin experienced a second flowering, albeit in a different guise.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The numbers also highlight how Safonov is making cross claims or sweeping outside his box more than twice the rate Chevalier is, although the Frenchman is more adept with his feet, playing more passes, completing a higher rate.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Lead with calm confidence, but keep your claims grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are those who once thought that the superiority of machines would cause a crisis for chess—and for humanity.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Piech wanted to show off the superiority of VW Group’s engineering.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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