1
as in posing
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
I pretended that I didn't care that my ex had a new man in her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in simulating
to present a false appearance of
as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in hypocritical
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretending
Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Jagadeesh Kunda, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Kelley susses out that Göring is pretending not to understand or speak English, and for a couple of scenes that gives the shrink a leg up.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
The real fraud is pretending this sector can withstand blow after blow.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
That’s a nice surprise for those of us who are tired of pretending that rocking chairs and flickering flashlights were ever scary — but a brutal slap in the face for anyone still taking these con-artist ghost busters seriously.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
This is also the same Newsom who a few months ago was pretending to be moderate, even somewhat conservative, pro-gun and manly.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
This summer, a 66-year-old Utah woman, identified only as Rita, shared her experience getting scammed out of $90,000 by someone pretending to be a celebrity.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Many businesses closing in Urfa were previously non-production businesses, established at zero cost with government incentives, used as warehouses while pretending to operate, and then declared bankrupt.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025
To mimic what would be a regular game week, head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs have been pretending all week, beginning on Sunday — which acted as a Wednesday practice day — and continuing on Monday (a Thursday) and so on.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
There can be no more pretending, briefing or hiding.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The challenge is to stop pretending the current tools give full control and start demanding real visibility.
—Jagadeesh Kunda, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Kelley susses out that Göring is pretending not to understand or speak English, and for a couple of scenes that gives the shrink a leg up.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
The real fraud is pretending this sector can withstand blow after blow.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
That’s a nice surprise for those of us who are tired of pretending that rocking chairs and flickering flashlights were ever scary — but a brutal slap in the face for anyone still taking these con-artist ghost busters seriously.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
This is also the same Newsom who a few months ago was pretending to be moderate, even somewhat conservative, pro-gun and manly.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
This summer, a 66-year-old Utah woman, identified only as Rita, shared her experience getting scammed out of $90,000 by someone pretending to be a celebrity.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Many businesses closing in Urfa were previously non-production businesses, established at zero cost with government incentives, used as warehouses while pretending to operate, and then declared bankrupt.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025
To mimic what would be a regular game week, head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs have been pretending all week, beginning on Sunday — which acted as a Wednesday practice day — and continuing on Monday (a Thursday) and so on.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretending
Verb
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One particularly notable viral video featured the son of a provincial government minister posing in front of a tree made from boxes of luxury labels including Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Gucci.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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The first photo in the carousel showed Brooks posing with her arms wrapped around her husband-to-be, flashing her ring as the couple posed for the camera in the black-and-white shot.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2022, the company achieved the world’s first test of a megawatt-class, multi-kilovolt hybrid electric propulsion system in altitude conditions simulating single-aisle commercial flight.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
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On occasion, especially as the film builds to its lugubrious finale, Mielants tries other tricks, simulating long tracking shots that seem to glide through the school and then out onto the grounds.—
Richard Lawson,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Delegates and party leaders described it as a corrupt and hypocritical maneuver from the governor.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Meghan McCain, the conservative commentator and daughter of late Senator John McCain, faced immediate backlash after mocking Greta Thunberg's appearance, comparing the Swedish climate activist to Shrek villain Lord Farquaad in a post critics slammed as hypocritical.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rookie Anthony Belton, playing right tackle for an injured Zach Tom, had a holding penalty that negated a 39-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
But there is something to getting in a room and all playing music together, which is what that record was born from.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Free as a Bird albums — with Davies assuming the lead vocals and songwriting by himself.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Creating truly inclusive environments means understanding and addressing these disparities, not assuming one-size-fits-all solutions will work.—
Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yet pop culture continues to fixate on these single women, with horror movies in particular framing them as duplicitous and unstable—threats to the public good.—
Beatrice Loayza,
The Atlantic,
13 Aug. 2025
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Unfortunately, my mom was irresponsible and even duplicitous about money many times over the years.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With more than 100,000 copies sold from her four EP releases between 2022 and 2024, Chaeyeon took on acting this summer as one of the lead roles in the web series Fresh Romance.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The resulting unrolled network consists of multiple stages, each acting like a mini-network that mimics one iteration of optimization.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For one, Vitale writes that the sort of direct-to-camera monologues that have become the toast of Bourdainposting were, in Bourdain’s eyes, corny and insincere.—
Tres Dean,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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The movie does not earn the right for such an insincere have-your-I-Heart-the-’90s-cake-and-eat-it-too gesture.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretending. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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