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 airs
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 claim
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pretense
Under the pretense of a back-to-school rules review, the sophomore through senior classes at Ruskin were treated to a stirring drumline performance before a shocked Sixta took the the stage.
—
Ilana Arougheti
updated October 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
In the end, no one was pretending, unless pretense paid the bills.
—Lavender Au, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025
Trump has not needed any provocation or pretense or reason to already have been doing.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Multiple Democrats say Vought and the president were determined to use the shutdown as a pretense for inflicting further pain on political opponents.
—Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Ilana Arougheti
updated October 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
In the end, no one was pretending, unless pretense paid the bills.
—Lavender Au, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025
Trump has not needed any provocation or pretense or reason to already have been doing.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Multiple Democrats say Vought and the president were determined to use the shutdown as a pretense for inflicting further pain on political opponents.
—Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
-
But Lloyd’s awkward staging here and questionable affectations (including an audience clap-along) makes Pozzo’s relationship with Lucky unfocused and puzzling.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The band sets aside the winks and retro affectations for something unadorned and honest.—
Sarah Grant,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The show will be available to stream with a regular Hulu subscription on Sunday, the day after a new episode airs.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, an insider has made a bold claim about their chances.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
To stake his claim to be considered for a F1 seat at any team, the 20-year-old would increase his odds by bagging the F2 title.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Using him comes across as arrogance.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Journalism that explains things clearly, without pretension or jargon.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
-
But she is best remembered for Keeping Up Appearances and her role as Hyacinth Bucket, a working-class woman with pretensions of social superiority.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This act would make daylight saving time permanent and end the bi-annual tradition of changing the clocks.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The film’s tonal balancing act — mixing absurdist humor with Anderson’s trademark intensity — seemed obviously comedic to casual awards observers, and the filmmakers, along with studio awards strategists, felt similarly.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Europeans, including Las Casas initially, claimed superiority as Christians, as most of the Africans Europeans encountered were either Muslim or animist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Their innovation is to replace the demagogue’s roar with the bureaucrat’s moral superiority.—
Alexis Coe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Those wanting to stream the show live can do so with a Peacock premium subscription or stream new episodes the next day with a basic Peacock subscription.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The pregame show has room to improve.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share