variants
or pretences
1
as in facades
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 rights
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretenses
Johnson eventually pleaded no contest to three counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000.
—
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
She is also charged with one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of between $1,000 and $20,000 and one count of false pretenses of between $1,000 and $20,000.
—Paul Egan, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
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
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
They were booked into Contra Costa County jail on charges of grand theft of an animal, theft by false pretenses and conspiracy.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said in a May report that women from more than 20 African countries had been recruited under false pretences to make drones for Russia’s war.
—Reuters 16 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
The audience meets Charles, who is completing yet another stint in jail, this time for false pretenses and evading arrest.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
She is also charged with one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of between $1,000 and $20,000 and one count of false pretenses of between $1,000 and $20,000.
—Paul Egan, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
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
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
They were booked into Contra Costa County jail on charges of grand theft of an animal, theft by false pretenses and conspiracy.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said in a May report that women from more than 20 African countries had been recruited under false pretences to make drones for Russia’s war.
—Reuters 16 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
The audience meets Charles, who is completing yet another stint in jail, this time for false pretenses and evading arrest.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretenses
Noun
-
The reports submitted to the weather service describe trees blocking roadways, falling onto vehicles and landing on building facades.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Some facades step out; others are set back.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Before these recent protests, people who had taken to the streets had had very specific, clear humanistic and civil-rights demands.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
This preemptive legislation is an effort to protect our democracy and in line with existing voting rights laws built on the premise that the right to vote must be both defended and protected.—
Kica Matos,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both marques returned to the competition this year in new guises.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Populism in all its guises surfaces problems but rarely solves them.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There was no immediate response to the claims from Pakistani officials.—
ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
-
While Iran’s coordination with and sponsorship of groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas are well known, Trump’s claims about Tehran’s ongoing development of nuclear weapons systems are less established — and the administration has provided little evidence to back them up.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Founded in the 16th century, the Royal Stables are best known for breeding the royal breed of the Andalucían horse, the best of which are showcased in regular breathtaking shows.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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After arriving on Netflix and Peacock, the flagship show unexpectedly broke streaming records and topped Nielsen's streaming charts for months on end in the midst of the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes essentially halting production and postproduction on new shows.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The war with Ukraine has revealed the yawning gap between Russia’s pretensions and its capabilities.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
-
With his dweeby air, pretensions and position at the helm of an active production, Arthur is the Liz Lemon of this setup, but with the emphases reversed.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The show will be available to stream with a regular Hulu subscription Sunday, the day after a new episode airs.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The season finale airs Thursday night.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kara Braxton of the Detroit Shock poses during the team's media day in 2005.—
Austin Mullen,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
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But focusing exclusively on the external threat from Iran ignores the internal threat Netanyahu’s government poses to Israel and its standing as a rule-of-law democracy and unified society.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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