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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretense
Under these pretenses, Wrapped is an abject failure, a cheap magic trick that momentarily distracts you from the gun being held to the back of your head.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2024
When those negotiations begin and under what pretenses will shape the outcome.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Chen, 30, of San Leandro was charged last month with grand theft, grand theft by false pretenses and theft from an elder or dependent adult.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024
What Eisenberg noticed about Culkin straight away was his complete lack of pretense.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretense 
Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2024
When those negotiations begin and under what pretenses will shape the outcome.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Chen, 30, of San Leandro was charged last month with grand theft, grand theft by false pretenses and theft from an elder or dependent adult.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024
What Eisenberg noticed about Culkin straight away was his complete lack of pretense.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
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She’s doe-eyed and eager and preening with Grande adopting a mid-century affectation, à la Gloria Grahame in Oklahoma!Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
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Some have weird affectations that appear to have no actual purpose, some have extraordinary techniques few others can match.Nick Miller, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
Noun
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Like the Trump and Harris voters who believe the 2020 and 2024 elections were stolen, these activists’ exaggerated claims erode of confidence in an election system that works very well.Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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Chile: President Gabriel Boric visited the South Pole on Friday in a bid to strengthen his country’s territorial claims to part of Antarctica. Japan: The difficulty of investing in China has driven many companies to make deals in the U.S.Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s Comments About The Panama Canal Trump remarked that the United States should regain control of the Panama Canal, a statement that evoked arrogance and colonialism in the past.Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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The historical 'attitude' (arrogance) in his acting has fueled MAGA, and his endorsements of Trump are undeniably overbearing and irrational.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There were no pretensions of showmanship, no displays of braggadocio — just the hollow ringing of palms on goatskin.Taran Dugal, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024
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The car comes equipped with the standard sensor suite for cars with pretensions to urban autonomy: lidars on the roof and around the front bumper, and radar and cameras just about everywhere else.IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Dec. 2016
Noun
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One of pop culture’s most tech-savvy musical acts, will.i.am has once again introduced a profound innovation to the masses.Ime Ekpo, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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For nearly two decades, De La Soul was one of hip-hop’s most important acts and among the most under-acknowledged.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Absolute Dominion takes place In the year 2063 AD, when the world faces catastrophe as zealots and extremists wage a global holy war in the name of spiritual superiority.Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025
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The dominant view in Washington argues for peace through strength, that only clear military superiority can deter China’s ambitions to subsume Taiwan and exert dominance across the Indo-Pacific.Brad Dress, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Hatch, a forward with the Washington Spirit, recently launched The Ditto Podcast, a self-improvement show.Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Godfrey’s show will be helmed at Chicago Shakespeare by its original young director, Ellie Coote, presumably with an eye on the 2025-26 Broadway season.Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Humans will glance at another human and make a broad assumption about the emotional state of that person by merely observing their face.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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This archetype is essential in a world where assumptions often go unchallenged, stifling creativity and growth.Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pretense
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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