Synonyms of pretense

pretense

noun

variants or pretence

1

as in affectation

the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case

she seemed to be a very down-to-earth woman who was completely free of pretense

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affectation
• pretension
• inflation
• vanity
• arrogance
• grandiosity
• disdain
• pretentiousness
• rudeness
• confidence
• affectedness
• superiority
• vainness
• smugness
• assertiveness
• complacency
• snobbery
• self-aggrandizement
• haughtiness
• aggressiveness
• imperiousness
• vainglory
• presumption
• self-satisfaction
• snobbishness
• hauteur
• egotism
• sureness
• conceit
• boldness
• self-assertion
• superciliousness
• pride
• pompousness
• self-conceit
• self-importance
• presumptuousness
• bumptiousness
• self-assurance
• boastfulness
• self-confidence
• self-glorification
• vaingloriousness
• lordliness
• braggadocio
• ostentation
• audaciousness
• cockiness
• forwardness
• impudence
• show
• glitz
• cheekiness
• mummery
• flamboyance
• insolence
• gaudiness
• self-assumption
• showiness
• grandiloquence
• flashiness
• ostentatiousness
• garishness
• self-consequence
• brassiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humility
• modesty
• meekness
• humbleness
• demureness
• timidity
• lowliness
• sincerity
• diffidence
• shyness
• bashfulness
• down-to-earthness
• naturalness

2

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

• airs
• act
• show
• pose
• front
• performance
• charade
• affectation
• portrayal
• façade
• semblance
• masquerade
• guise
• facade
• disguise
• appearance
• put-on
• playacting
• color
• deception
• persona
• duplicity
• image
• impersonation
• pretext
• excuse
• cloak
• camouflage
• deceit
• gloss
• fraud
• dissimulation
• betrayal
• treason
• treachery
• guile
• fakery
• infidelity
• falseness
• perfidy
• dissembling
• falsity
• faithlessness
• double-dealing
• unfaithfulness
• double cross

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• candor
• directness
• bluntness
• straightforwardness
• forthrightness
• outspokenness
• naïveté
• naiveté
• candidness
• genuineness
• naivete
• artlessness
• openheartedness
• plainspokenness

3

as in claim

an entitlement to something

this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• claim
• pretension
• right
• call
• dibs
• prerogative
• privilege
• title
• refusal
• birthright
• favor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• waiver
• release
• disclaimer
• quitclaim

4

as in arrogance

an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims

the pretense of that woman in thinking that the other hotel guests should be inconvenienced just for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrogance
• superiority
• assumption
• consequence
• attitude
• pretension
• haughtiness
• pomposity
• superciliousness
• imperiousness
• loftiness
• hauteur
• vanity
• pretentiousness
• peremptoriness
• self-importance
• pompousness
• bumptiousness
• presumptuousness
• lordliness
• high horse
• masterfulness
• huffiness
• toploftiness
• pridefulness
• disdain
• pride
• side
• self-consequence
• condescension
• snobbery
• dominance
• scorn
• bravado
• high-handedness
• inflation
• snobbishness
• bossiness
• snobbism
• snootiness
• self-assertion
• chest-thumping
• authoritativeness
• boastfulness
• brag
• smugness
• triumphalism
• swagger
• cheekiness
• vainglory
• bowwow
• sauciness
• bombast
• egoism
• impudence
• self-satisfaction
• braggadocio
• egotism
• self-complacency
• cockiness
• self-opinion
• self-centeredness
• conceit
• self-conceit
• cheek
• complacence
• self-content
• impertinence
• strut
• vaingloriousness
• swelled head
• self-contentment
• superiority complex
• self-assumption
• self-partiality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humility
• modesty
• unpretentiousness
• shyness
• bashfulness
• timidity
• diffidence
• demureness
• passivity
• meekness
• self-doubt
• submissiveness
• unassumingness
• passiveness
• reserve
• lowliness
• quietness
• timidness
• retiringness
• self-distrust
• reservedness
• mousiness

Phrases Containing pretense

• make a pretense