pretense

noun

ˈprē-ˌten(t)s How to pronounce pretense (audio)
variants or pretence
Definition of pretensenext
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

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2
as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive her display of bravado was just a pretense

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3
as in right
an entitlement to something this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pretense Tom’s frugality also lured Nancy into the business on the pretense of spending more time together. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Conference expansion has shattered pretenses to regional coherence. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 Cinematic pretense and the kinds political leaders and media personalities use to sell ideas are often one and the same. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Sam and all the other players convulse in hysterics at the pretense that Vic is technically still behind at least some of the rope. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
  1. affectation
  2. facade
  3. right
  4. arrogance
  5. pretension
  6. guise
  7. claim
  8. superiority
Noun
  • But, even then, American socialists walked a fine line—they were considered too radical for the mainstream and a mere bourgeois affectation by committed class revolutionaries.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • With rare exceptions, EV sound is little more than an affectation.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of affectation
Noun
  • These boutiques offer distinct expressions of each house, while their facades contribute to a streetscape with an individual character.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Framed by concrete, the glass façade reflects its surroundings as well as the sky.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of facade
Noun
  • Marketed under the brand name Keytruda, pembrolizumab is considered to be something of a wonder drug in its own right, with just 30% of patients relapsing in the first two years of treatment.
    — Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Machado left Venezuela in December for Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, which she was awarded for promoting democratic rights in her country.
    — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of right
Noun
  • McVay and Snead have effectively built a culture of arrogance.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • These fascinating, illuminating episodes raise the question of whether great fiction requires the kind of single-mindedness and even arrogance that McCarthy cultivated.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • The author behind the singular Elizabeth Zott returns with ‘Peck & Peck,’ a sharp, charming satire on the pretensions and perils of literary gatekeepers.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the proximity to downtown and guest rooms brimming with the latest and greatest technology, there’s zero pretension here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretension
Noun
  • In street-legal guise, the original Shelby Cobra 427 S/C MKIII comprised a run of only 31 examples in period.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of guise
Noun
  • The company reincorporated from Delaware to Texas in 2024, and its charter pushes shareholder claims into mandatory arbitration and limits derivative suits to investors holding at least 3% of the stock—a stake worth tens of billions of dollars.
    — Heather Occhino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Under a contributory infringement claim, all authors need to prove is that Meta facilitated transfers of their works.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of claim
Noun
  • Tampa Bay used clear superiority in its starting rotation, bullpen and late-series offense to eliminate Cleveland.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • If military superiority alone could end wars, then Afghanistan and Iraq would have been relatively easy American wins.
    — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of superiority

Phrases Containing pretense

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pretense
pretenses
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Cite this Entry

“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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