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.
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Recent Examples of pretexts
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretexts
Noun
-
In a recent segment on the Radio-Canada investigative news program Enquête, former Quebec Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx expounded further on the reasons for the rejection.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2026
-
Jones stayed diplomatic in her reasons for entering the 2021 season on a mission.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
There are no obvious justifications, financial or otherwise.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
These range from narratives on the current status of Crimea and justifications for the war in Ukraine to the history of NATO and justification for Russia’s annexation of Baltic states during World War II.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
For all the Court’s pretenses—all of its insistence on the rule of law, precedent, and good faith—many critics and supporters of the Roberts Court see the institution as an appendage of the Republican Party.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
-
Garcia-Hernandez was arrested on charges of theft of an elder adult, obtaining money by false pretenses, and attempted grand theft, along with an out-of-county warrant.—
Kassia Bonesteel,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Despite these recent developments, Platner has continued to receive silence, excuses, and outright support from prominent Democrats.—
Doug Friednash,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
-
The Seminoles and Gators, however, have no excuses.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretexts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretexts. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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