Synonyms of pretexts

pretexts

noun

plural of pretext

as in reasons

a false ground that you give to hide why you are really doing something

The leaders used a minor clash at the border as a pretext for war.

Related Words

• reasons
• justifications
• pretenses
• excuses
• rationalizations
• rationales
• guises
• explanations
• arguments
• cases
• accountings
• alibis
• defenses
• apologies
• vindications
• pleas
• accounts
• appeals
• apologiae

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pretexts

Pages and pages have been written on this passage, seeking out its ideological subtext, its historical context and its intellectual pretexts in classical and early modern thought. — New York Times, 9 June 2026

The Kremlin is making false accusations that could be used in the future as pretexts for military attacks. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Americans have a long history of being hurried into war on false pretexts. — Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026

Hamas says that Israel is creating pretexts to avoid honoring the agreement. — Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2025

Those killed under torture, or by starvation, or medical neglect, on the other hand, were transported first to military hospitals where pretexts were invented for the deaths. — Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025