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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pretense
Toronto might be considered the New York City of Canada, but Bo Bichette is under no pretenses that playing for the Blue Jays is comparable to playing for one of the baseball teams in the Big Apple.
—
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
That balance—heritage without preciousness, ambition without pretense—defines Louisville’s current culinary moment.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Aurora Municipal Court Judge Brian Whitney issued an order last year pausing more than 300 cases in which attorneys challenged issues under the same pretenses as those before the Supreme Court.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Voter turnout has plummeted to humiliating lows, and the regime’s pretense to popular mandate has withered.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
That balance—heritage without preciousness, ambition without pretense—defines Louisville’s current culinary moment.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Aurora Municipal Court Judge Brian Whitney issued an order last year pausing more than 300 cases in which attorneys challenged issues under the same pretenses as those before the Supreme Court.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Voter turnout has plummeted to humiliating lows, and the regime’s pretense to popular mandate has withered.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
-
Now, though levees may not exactly be back, royal affectations and the disputes that go with them are.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That’s probably an affectation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The Korea Times reported that the agency applied for a free concert with pre filming and media facade production.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Fire damaged the building in July 2022, but didn’t destroy its terra-cotta facade.—
Samuel O’Neal
January 21,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Members of Congress have for months been denied their lawful right to inspect detention facilities in Minnesota, New Jersey, Florida and California.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The underlying lawsuit, filed in December, alleges that federal officers violated the First and Fourth Amendment rights of six protesters.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach take turns transforming into floating marketplaces — docks converted to catwalks, hulls polished to reflective arrogance, sales reps who can quote fuel burn like yacht owners care about costs.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
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College football is awash in problems, including the Big Ten’s unrivaled arrogance, and its never-ending list of demands that would make Notre Dame blush.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The nation was to be purged of continual sin not indeed all of its own doing—due partly to its inheritance; and yet a sin, a negation that gave the world the right to sneer at the pretensions of this republic.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
This action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Skechers shoes boast a low-profile silhouette, plus a slip-on design despite their lace-up guise.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
18 Jan. 2026
-
In a partial charade guise arranged by Mike Cristaldi, the team’s vice president of communications, and his longtime TV partner Eric Collins, Curry was the victim of a gotcha moment.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Federal officials said Good attempted to drive her vehicle toward agents during the encounter, a claim disputed by family members and some local leaders.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Witnesses and local leaders have contradicted that claim, saying Good was trying to leave and steering away from the agent.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His team did not take the opportunity to fully exert their superiority against weakened opponents.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Given their overall superiority in data transfer speeds and load times, SSD is generally the superior choice, though HDDs are just fine for less sensitive data.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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