View synonyms for

pretense

[ pri-tens, pree-tens ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

pretending or feigning; make-believe:
My sleepiness was all pretense.
a false show of something:
a pretense of friendship.
Synonyms:
a piece of make-believe.
Synonyms: ,
the act of pretending or alleging falsely.
a false allegation or justification:
He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.
insincere or false profession:
His pious words were mere pretense.
the putting forth of an unwarranted claim.
the claim itself.
any allegation or claim:
to obtain money under false pretenses.
pretension (usually followed by to ):
destitute of any pretense to wit.
pretentiousness.

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Other Word Forms

��·�ٱ�Բ��f�ܱ� adjective
��·�ٱ�Բ��l�� adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pretense¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from unattested Medieval Latin ��ŧ�Բ��, noun use of feminine of ��ŧ�Բ��ܲ�, past participle (replacing Latin praetentus ) of praetendere “to put forward, stretch forth, pretend”; pretend

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In these moments, he mostly dispenses with the pretense of love and simply just wants to be seen as who he is, with all his torturous flaws, by another human being.

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My well-worn pretense of satiety — of not needing anyone — put up a fight.

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Hey, if you're paying for a prayer app, why not play along with the pretense that a mindless computer is your conduit to the mind of God?

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She could use some time alone, and Glenn could use a forced change of scenery — even if it’s under false pretenses.

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It’s simple, there’s no pretense, there’s no BS.

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Related Words

pretender pretension

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