as in hypocritical
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretending
Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
June Squibb plays the titular Thelma, who gets taken in by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) to the tune of $10,000.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
According to a release from the DA, five employees defrauded the State of California and Apple’s Matching Gifts Program by pretending to make donations to the American Chinese International Cultural Exchange (ACICE) or Hop4Kids.
—David Hessekiel, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
And, while there is a big difference between being good at your job and pretending to be good at it, most people are rewarded, compensated, and promoted for the latter rather than the former.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Often, users are contacted on Telegram by someone pretending to be a friend or acquaintance.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024
The truth is, pollsters earned the public’s ire by pretending to deliver essential, objective political information while actually distorting data for their own purposes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
The study conducted earlier this year illustrates how AI systems have mastered the art of double-crossing, bluffing, and even pretending to be human during interactions and tests.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Dec. 2024
Bronwyn is straightforward during her conversation with Lisa during before-dinner drinks, and Lisa keeps pretending that assigning Bronwyn to Angie and Whitney’s exile villa means nothing.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
While maintaining a quirky and mysterious air, the show yields questions like, is a cult real if its creators are pretending but its followers aren’t?
—Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
June Squibb plays the titular Thelma, who gets taken in by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) to the tune of $10,000.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
According to a release from the DA, five employees defrauded the State of California and Apple’s Matching Gifts Program by pretending to make donations to the American Chinese International Cultural Exchange (ACICE) or Hop4Kids.
—David Hessekiel, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
And, while there is a big difference between being good at your job and pretending to be good at it, most people are rewarded, compensated, and promoted for the latter rather than the former.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Often, users are contacted on Telegram by someone pretending to be a friend or acquaintance.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024
The truth is, pollsters earned the public’s ire by pretending to deliver essential, objective political information while actually distorting data for their own purposes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
The study conducted earlier this year illustrates how AI systems have mastered the art of double-crossing, bluffing, and even pretending to be human during interactions and tests.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Dec. 2024
Bronwyn is straightforward during her conversation with Lisa during before-dinner drinks, and Lisa keeps pretending that assigning Bronwyn to Angie and Whitney’s exile villa means nothing.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretending
Adjective
-
The Russian invasion of Ukraine won Vladimir Putin a certain admiration in countries of the global South, as well as among MAGA Americans, while Joe Biden’s appeals to democratic values seemed pallid and hypocritical.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2025
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But the weekly shows cut much deeper by undermining trust in the process and repeatedly placing the committee chair in position to look hypocritical from one week to the next.—
Jon Wilner,
The Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Wind chills in this region could reach 20 degrees, posing a significant threat to people and property.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Wind chills in this region could reach 20 degrees, posing a significant threat to people and property.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Nvidia’s Omniverse allows users to put together world scenes digitally, simulating a physical environment.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Jan. 2025
-
In addition to large-scale data theft, economic disruption, and intelligence breaches, quantum computers could be used for malicious purposes such as simulating and synthesizing chemical weapons or optimizing the flight trajectories of a swarm of drones.—
Charina Chou,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The plot concerns three main players: a suave con man (Ha Jung-woo), the low-level grifter he’s conscripted into a scheme (Kim Tae-ri), and a housebound heiress (Kim Min-hee), all locked in a duplicitous love triangle.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Well, the duplicitous Seth Voelker/Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) has some clues.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
When Sanders was playing, all the attention was on his flash — his spectacular flash.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
-
The World Junior tournament is always good for some surprises; a couple of unexpected players emerging as top scorers or playing well in big moments, or a traditional top nation getting upset in the medal round.—
Corey Pronman,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
As such, even assuming that some more tariffs are put on, the potential impact on China's economy overall is likely to be limited.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
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In the chaos, the girls' mother evacuated with another daughter, assuming Lama and Sama were with their father.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For some readers, such accolades read as insincere or overwrought.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Honest criticism is rude, and insincere praise is — well, insincere.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
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South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country’s entire airplane operation, including checks of all Boeing 737-800s.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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The fast-acting shampoo should only be left on wet hair for one minute, and it’s designed for weekly use.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
31 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pretending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretending. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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