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
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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
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3
as in claim
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretense
For more about how to tell generative AI to carry out a pretense, known as an AI persona, see my coverage at the link here.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
There were no pretenses and no judgments — a theme that resonated throughout the retreat.
—Colby Holiday, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2024
If the department’s predictions are correct, the U.S. would be essentially abandoning any pretense of trying to limit climate change.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Popular on Variety Craig Sweeny’s screenplay strikes a frequently arch posture to accommodate this trickster protagonist, which undermines any pretense of seriousness elsewhere.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
There were no pretenses and no judgments — a theme that resonated throughout the retreat.
—Colby Holiday, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2024
If the department’s predictions are correct, the U.S. would be essentially abandoning any pretense of trying to limit climate change.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Popular on Variety Craig Sweeny’s screenplay strikes a frequently arch posture to accommodate this trickster protagonist, which undermines any pretense of seriousness elsewhere.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
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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
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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
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces workplace anti-discrimination rules, applies the same standard of proof to all claims, the government also noted.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
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The backlog is due to claims not being processed in the past, said State Rep. Craig Fishbein, the Republican ranking member of the legislature’s judiciary committee.—
Yash Roy,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Payton approached the quarterback vacancy with arrogance.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2025
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How narcissism and exclusion fuel one another Narcissists often display disruptive behaviors in social settings, such as aggression or arrogance, that increase the likelihood of others distancing themselves over time.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
So often a potential title decider, the only team here that have title pretensions are Liverpool.—
Andy Jones,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
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There’s no pretension or judgment here, but nearly everything is pleasing to the eye.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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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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Release Date Confirmed: Your Schedule For The Newest iPhone These results underscore MEG’s superiority but also highlight challenges.—
Luis E. Romero,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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American liberal internationalism, with its innate (and intellectually unavoidable) belief in the goodness and moral superiority of Western democracy in general, and the United States in particular, makes this form of empathy far harder to achieve.—
Anatol Lieven,
Harper's Magazine,
19 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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John Lithgow is a renowned and respected actor, having appeared in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Shrek, The World According to Garp, Dexter, Conclave, and many more shows and movies.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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