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 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
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Recent Examples of pretense
Theft by false pretense: Someone contacted a Saratoga resident claiming to work for Kaiser Hospital and the Chinese police.
—
Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Tiron Alexander, 35, was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud and entering a secure area of an airport by false pretenses on June 5, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
—Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
World & Nation Sean Combs’ inner circle reveals a world of guns, abuse, kidnapping and death threats
May 28, 2025
The federal indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
He’s sent the National Guard into L.A. under the pretense of fighting crime — over the objections of local leaders — in a dangerous overreach.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Tiron Alexander, 35, was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud and entering a secure area of an airport by false pretenses on June 5, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
—Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
World & Nation Sean Combs’ inner circle reveals a world of guns, abuse, kidnapping and death threats
May 28, 2025
The federal indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
He’s sent the National Guard into L.A. under the pretense of fighting crime — over the objections of local leaders — in a dangerous overreach.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
-
From our review: Tessa Van den Broeck, a newcomer, plays Julie with zero affectation.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
No fussy affectations, just a deliberate tamping down of his more charismatic qualities.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
To make sure his company was in good hands and to sidestep nepotism claims, the 75-year-old billionaire sent his kids on a quest: get an MBA, work for a competitor for five years, and spend over a decade rising the ranks.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of paralegals and legal assistants to grow slower than the average for all occupations while roles for credit analysts, claims adjusters and insurance appraisers to decrease.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
This silliness, the silliness of his arrogance, was actually funny to me.—
Ottessa Moshfegh,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
On the dark side, however, Mercury in Leo can spark moments of arrogance and stubbornness.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Each installment was a chance for a new joke, a new observation—about fashion, dating, public restrooms, artistic pretensions, being mistaken for a man—in an era when popular depictions of lesbian experience were rare.—
Charlie Tyson,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
-
Her generation had its pretensions, however rough the family seems now.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
Forty-two years after that, Titus captured and destroyed the city of Jerusalem; that act avenged the murder of Christ.—
Mary Jo Bang
July 9,
Literary Hub,
9 July 2025
-
The Canadian metal juggernauts will be joined by progressive metal stalwarts Periphery and rising alt-pop act Honey Revenge for the 19-date run, which kicks off Nov. 12 in Ontario, California, and wraps up Dec. 7 in Wallingford, Connecticut.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Yet as more data has emerged demonstrating the safety or even superiority of AI for some tasks, those views are likely changing.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Red Bull enjoyed a period of superiority since the inception of the current ground effect era in 2022, thanks to the aerodynamic expertise of the team's former chief technical officer, Adrian Newey.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
That’s certainly rare — especially when the show has been this successful.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
-
In my first year auditioning, I was featured on Making the Team, the DCC reality show before the one on Netflix.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
What becomes more important is the ability to adapt, question assumptions, and think creatively.—
John Winsor,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
The rates are based on an assumption that workers are paid $15.75 an hour, although there's no requirement for employers to pay that rate.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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