variants
or pretences
1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pretensions
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pretenses
Did Gacy’s attorney, Sam Amirante, agree to represent him on false pretenses and later struggle to be his lawyer?
—
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Harold is so clearly not a great man that his pretenses feel more like cries for help.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
They were arraigned on Friday in Brockton District Court on one count each of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, embezzlement, and conspiracy.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Since then, immigration raids have escalated — often under questionable pretenses.
—Sonia Banker, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
And yet, somewhere in the city, someone is being arrested and detained as an enemy of the state under dodgy pretenses.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2025
Personas are pretenses, so keep a clear head accordingly.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
This may seem to be an inadequate and weak response to a president and governor who are seizing control on false pretenses.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Harold is so clearly not a great man that his pretenses feel more like cries for help.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
They were arraigned on Friday in Brockton District Court on one count each of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, embezzlement, and conspiracy.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Since then, immigration raids have escalated — often under questionable pretenses.
—Sonia Banker, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
And yet, somewhere in the city, someone is being arrested and detained as an enemy of the state under dodgy pretenses.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2025
Personas are pretenses, so keep a clear head accordingly.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
This may seem to be an inadequate and weak response to a president and governor who are seizing control on false pretenses.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretenses
Noun
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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
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The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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Such pretensions on the part of the mega-rich aren’t new; Lowell reminds us of that.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Despite his claims of innocence, her husband, Scott Peterson, was convicted of her murder in 2004.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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And the advent of consumer DNA products has led to numerous claims of fertility fraud over the years.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The actress brought her modeling skills to Instagram on Tuesday, striking various poses in straight-off-the-runway strappy pink-and-black pumps from Julie Kegels‘ spring 2026 show.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
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Helping the fox is especially urgent, said Good Boy Dog Recovery president Colleen Bell, because the problems the pipe poses will only get worse come winter.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
It will be performed in two acts with an intermission.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Ware also noted that the CSIS study left off incidents that others might call acts of left-wing terrorism.—
NPR,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Having fought Trump most of this year on a variety of fronts, Newsom has put a lot of his own political capital on the line with California’s redistricting measure Proposition 50.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
26 Oct. 2025
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Combined with earlier work, it's become clear that these men were under microbial assault on all fronts.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sevilla in particular excelled at this during their 4-1 win this month as the map below shows.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Sarah McLachlan, please call The New Theatre & Restaurant in Overland Park, where shows run for weeks at a time, has provided an endless supply of actors to chat with.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The chance for good performances to turn into good results is greater.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Midtown Fall Fest is a family-friendly event with performances from local drill teams, face painting, pumpkin painting and an appearance from the KC26 mascot in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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