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
-
Because authenticity weighs less than facades.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Street art from Latino/a and Indigenous painters covers more and more facades every day.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cross later filed a federal lawsuit against Nanos, claiming the sheriff violated his First Amendment rights.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
More than 400 people signed a letter urging the country’s film and television industry to take action on trans rights, including Paapa Essiedu, who has been cast in the Harry Potter series as Professor Snape.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Populism in all its guises surfaces problems but rarely solves them.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Bad actors can take on all kinds of guises—including pretending to be lawyers.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For more details on the claims process or to download a claim form, visit the Hoosier Lottery Winners page or contact the customer service team at 1-800-955-6886.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
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Even seemingly outlandish and incomprehensible claims called in to tip lines were examined.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some of Waller’s clients already attend the shows on their own accord.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Brian McCollum The latest batch of metro Detroit concerts includes a host of shows going on sale this week.—
BRIAN MCCOLLUM,
Freep.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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This action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many are already adopted by the time the show airs, however, thanks to their cuteness level.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The ceremony airs live on NBC, Telemundo, Peacock and Universo.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Which means the deepest challenge AI poses may not be to jobs at all.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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In a Wednesday note, analysts at the bank acknowledged very real risks that generative AI poses to traditional software companies, including the threat of new tools and newer competition, which pressure prices.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretenses. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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