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
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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
So, since October 7th, there has not been even a pretense of a buffer between the violent settlers and the Army.
—
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
With most of the master’s level degrees, any pretense of value beyond rendering the prospective students more salable in the workforce is often dispensed with entirely.
—James Cramer, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2026
This shocking cowardice and sheer abandonment of any pretense of ethics or values are rendered even more shameful when considering that Noem was brought down by polls, likely more than anything else.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The adults were arrested on suspicion of theft from an elder, theft by false pretenses, conspiracy, contracting without a license and other offenses.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
With most of the master’s level degrees, any pretense of value beyond rendering the prospective students more salable in the workforce is often dispensed with entirely.
—James Cramer, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2026
This shocking cowardice and sheer abandonment of any pretense of ethics or values are rendered even more shameful when considering that Noem was brought down by polls, likely more than anything else.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The adults were arrested on suspicion of theft from an elder, theft by false pretenses, conspiracy, contracting without a license and other offenses.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
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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
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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
-
Don’t mistake the play’s opening facade for what is in fact an intricate and multi-layered performance work.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Behind this façade, a sandy path leads to a dense network of row houses.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sign up here to receive an email right as the chat is about to start.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Once satisfied with the order, tap Done at the top right to save changes.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In a study with 355 participants, the authors narrowed their list to 16 warning signs that predicted violence that occurred within six months — many of them having to do with entitlement, arrogance, control and emotional immaturity.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The same arrogance has infected the political sphere.—
Anthony Scaramucci,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The house did not have a European or East Coast seriousness, but rather a Californian dimension rooted in casualness, improvisation, and lack of pretension.—
Rem Koolhaas,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
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Traditionally, Oscars hosts have been at their best when puncturing the pretensions of the stars in attendance, but for the most part, host Conan O’Brien bought into their sense of their own righteousness.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Department of the Treasury last Thursday designated Hayat Yolu as a key player in a covert global network that uses the guise of humanitarian aid to raise money overseas.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
But sometimes the squashing of speech can appear in other guises.—
Andrea Valdez,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Judges have sometimes backed claims that administration officials are defying the law, and even defying direct court orders.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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Advocates like Ramírez say the decision by Huerta and other women to speak out -- first revealing their claims to The New York Times -- is a powerful sign that things have changed since Chavez's time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This need to demonstrate moral superiority vis-à-vis their neighbors necessarily makes much of leftism performative in nature, dedicated to signaling both contempt for deplorables and membership in an enlightened tribe.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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Overcoming prolonged delays and technical challenges, the US Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon is approaching its first operational deployment, marking a key milestone in the race for hypersonic superiority.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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