Definition Synonyms
Definition of pretense - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
falsehoodUS false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentionsUS
- He made a pretense of being interested..
2.
insincerityUS insincere attempt to achieve a certain qualityUS
- Her kindness was just a pretense to gain trust.
3.
assertionUS claim made or implied, especially one not supported by factUS
- They had little pretense to the throne..
4.
imaginationUS imaginative play or intellectual explorationUS
- Children often engage in pretense during playtime.
Expressions with pretense
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act as if something is true when it is not
He made a pretense of caring about the results.
representation of untrue facts to deceive others
He gained her trust under false pretense.
act honestly without trying to hide the truth
He makes no pretense about his lack of experience.
acting with a false reason to hide true intent
He visited her under the pretense of doing a welfare check.
Origin of pretense
Latin, praetensus (pretended)
Terms with pretense included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
authenticity
genuinely or sincerely without pretense
deception
pretense or false display
pretense
something done only to impress or deceive others
pretense
pretend to be something not true
honesty
talk honestly without pretense
pretense
done while pretending to do something else
deception
pretense or false display
false
not real or true, used to describe pretense
pretense
pretending to be something you are not
pretense
pretended action to mislead someone
deception pretense
hide true self or feelings and act like someone else
deception
deceptive appearance or pretense
pretense
the act of presenting oneself insincerely
pretense
pretending to be something one is not
pretense
create a false impression or pretend
behavior
extreme insincerity or pretense
deception
use a false identity or pretense
concealment
concealed by an outward appearance or pretense
pretense
pretending to be something else
pretense
the act of pretending to be something else
pretense
claim cultural knowledge without genuine understanding
pretense
showing or pretending to be wrongly hurt in purity
education
pretense of ignorance and willingness to learn used as a teaching method
pretense
pretend to have a characteristic
Examples of pretense in a sentence
The pretense of friendship was obvious. His smile was a mere pretense to hide his anger. The pretense of friendship was quickly uncovered. Her pretense of innocence was unconvincing. The novel invites pretense as a way to test new ideas. Their pretense turned a cardboard box into a spaceship.
View all translations of pretense
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:simulacre, revendication sans fondement, ...
- German:Vortäuschung, Schein, ...
- Italian:simulazione, finta, ...
- Spanish:simulación, pretensión, ...
- Portuguese:fingimento, pretensão, ...
- Chinese:伪装, 虚情假意, ...
- Japanese:見せかけ, 偽り, ...
- Arabic:تَظاهُر, ادعاء زائف, ...
- Hebrew:הַעֲמָדַת פָּנִים, הַצָּגָה, ...
- Russian:ложное представление, притворство, ...
- Ukrainian:привід, претензія, ...
- Hindi:झूठा दिखावा, कपट, ...
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