pretender

noun

pre·​tend·​er pri-ˈten-dər 

: one that pretends: such as

a

: one who lays claim to something

specifically : a claimant to a throne who is held to have no just title

b

: one who makes a false or hypocritical show

Synonyms

• charlatan
• fake
• faker
• fakir
• fraud
• hoaxer
• humbug
• impostor
• imposter
• mountebank
• phony
• phoney
• quack
• quacksalver
• ringer
• sham

Examples of pretender in a Sentence

it turns out that the guy who claimed to work for a modeling agency was just a pretender

Recent Examples on the Web

Chasten passions and impulses, the Indian texts counsel, in order to be able to distinguish opportunity from danger, friend from pretender, good advice from folly. —John Nemec, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025

In college basketball, what separates contenders from pretenders is a strong bench—a reliable sixth man, role players who know their purpose, and a culture that emphasizes development across the roster. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

The bot will see you now: Therapists in the U.S. are getting ready for a battle with A.I. pretenders. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

Without a bit more heart and soul, the spinoff is just a pretender in a nicely tailored suit. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

pretend entry 1 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretender

• bartender
• contender
• defender
• engender
• extender
• offender
• provender
• surrender
• suspender
• transgender
• bender
• blender

Kids Definition

pretender

noun

pre·​tend·​er pri-ˈten-dər 

1

: a person who pretends

2

: a person who claims a throne without right