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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in claim
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretense
Israel’s government is keen to dismantle any pretense of Palestinian nationhood, institutions, and government.
—
Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
These are typically hogwash for multiple reasons, not least of which is the combination of ideological bias with the pretense of ideological neutrality.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 18 Feb. 2025
Instead, these conflicts were entered into under the pretense of strengthening national security or spreading democracy.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
These bills were passed under the pretense of protecting people, but only harm has come.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
These are typically hogwash for multiple reasons, not least of which is the combination of ideological bias with the pretense of ideological neutrality.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 18 Feb. 2025
Instead, these conflicts were entered into under the pretense of strengthening national security or spreading democracy.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
These bills were passed under the pretense of protecting people, but only harm has come.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
-
From frame one, Bob Dylan, the creation, the idea, the trickster, the lone wolf, without attitude or affectation, your Dylan was no imitation.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
12 Feb. 2025
-
In a transfixing performance that balances colorful affectation with raw hunger, the actor makes Lee a magnetic raconteur whose shield of worldly composure falls away as Eugene (Drew Starkey) eludes his grasp, leaving him a virtual ghost by the end of the film.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The acquisition of Kunin, along with Thursday’s waiver claim of Christian Fischer from the Detroit Red Wings, will give them four lines full of NHL players who can make an impact in one way or another.—
Aaron Portzline,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
-
While some of Trump’s claims are often overstated or murky, there are other moves that will represent decisive setbacks to climate and clean energy efforts.—
Justin Worland,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But what unfolded in the White House on Friday was a striking departure—an unprecedented display of hostility, arrogance, and political theater that raises serious concerns about America's global leadership.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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Reportedly, Tulip mastermind Charles Hegel (played with perfect measure of condescending arrogance by Josh Brener) has died in Kenya, and took with him all the necessary passwords needed to access the accounts of his many investors.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Rabelais points out that there are oddities in the world that cannot fit into any classification scheme, more things in our heaven and earth than are dreamt of in either the medieval pretensions of the summa or the ambitious early modern bibliographic machines.—
Brendan Fitzgerald,
Longreads,
27 Dec. 2024
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So often a potential title decider, the only team here that have title pretensions are Liverpool.—
Andy Jones,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
California rock band Incubus will be the headlining act at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival 2025 on Thursday night (Feb. 27).—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2025
-
While opening acts haven’t been officially announced yet for the stadium shows, Blackpink concerts are known for their elaborate production and full-evening experiences.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This condition is what philosopher Charles Mills, speaking of the American context, labeled epistemological ignorance—a deliberate unknowing, an insistence on the myth of white superiority, of white exceptionalism.—
Christine Winter,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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And so Tyla’s comments were also taken as an insinuation of superiority over Black people.—
Funmi Fetto,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The show was created and produced by Banijay Benelux label TwentyTwo.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2025
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So far, she’s completed four shows in Brisbane and two of four nights in Sydney.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The idea of receiving free money taps into our natural aversion to missing out and the default assumption that any message appearing to be from the government is legitimate.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
People will chew on the Broadway first of an Othello directed and lead-produced by black men—Leon and Brian Anthony Moreland, respectively—and cut their assumptions about that to fit their pre-existing views.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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