pretense
noun
pre·tense ˈprē-ˌten(t)s 
pri-ˈten(t)s
variants or pretence
1
: a claim made or implied
especially : one not supported by fact
2
a
: mere ostentation : pretentiousness
confuse dignity with pomposity and pretense
Bennett Cerf
Bennett Cerf b
: a pretentious act or assertion
3
: an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality
4
: professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext
was there under false pretenses
5
: make-believe, fiction
6
: false show : simulation
saw through his pretense of indifference
Synonyms
- affectation
- affectedness
- grandiosity
- inflation
- pretension
- pretentiousness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine. Their indifference is merely pretense.
Recent Examples on the Web Any pretense that they won’t be recognized has been completely abandoned. Omar L. Gallaga, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022 Other nations might not be sharing or only give a pretense of doing so. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Because presidential ignorance here (or at least the pretense of it) serves a useful political game. William Mcgurn, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2022 Any pretense that the automobile is a prosthetic will be eliminated, so car passengers can move on to other things. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2022 And so, despite the pretense of novelty, BeReal represents the latest iteration in the cycle of social media sites that spring from the push-and-pull tension of authenticity and performance. Wired, 7 Aug. 2022 Yet Trump and his supporters nonetheless justified their actions under the dubious pretense of preserving American democracy – as a matter of getting the vote right, of reversing voter fraud. George Michael, The Conversation, 27 July 2022 Most other luxury SUVs, electric or not, make little pretense of being able to tackle anything more challenging than a snowy or unpaved road. Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, 6 July 2022 One of them was Helene Weiss, then a scrawny 8-year-old whom Ms. Geulen took to a farm owned by a Catholic family, using the pretense that Helene, too, was Catholic but needed fresh air and country life to regain her health. Joseph Berger, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2022 See More
Omar L. Gallaga, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022 Other nations might not be sharing or only give a pretense of doing so. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Because presidential ignorance here (or at least the pretense of it) serves a useful political game. William Mcgurn, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2022 Any pretense that the automobile is a prosthetic will be eliminated, so car passengers can move on to other things. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2022 And so, despite the pretense of novelty, BeReal represents the latest iteration in the cycle of social media sites that spring from the push-and-pull tension of authenticity and performance. Wired, 7 Aug. 2022 Yet Trump and his supporters nonetheless justified their actions under the dubious pretense of preserving American democracy – as a matter of getting the vote right, of reversing voter fraud. George Michael, The Conversation, 27 July 2022 Most other luxury SUVs, electric or not, make little pretense of being able to tackle anything more challenging than a snowy or unpaved road. Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, 6 July 2022 One of them was Helene Weiss, then a scrawny 8-year-old whom Ms. Geulen took to a farm owned by a Catholic family, using the pretense that Helene, too, was Catholic but needed fresh air and country life to regain her health. Joseph Berger, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, probably modification of Medieval Latin pretensio, irregular from Latin praetendere
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pretense
Kids Definition
pretense
noun
pre·tense
variants or pretence
ˈprē-ˌtens,
pri-ˈtens
1
: an act or appearance that looks real but is false
He made a pretense of studying.
2
: an effort to reach a certain condition or quality
His report makes no pretense at completeness.
pretense
noun
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- affectation
- pretension
- vanity
- inflation
- arrogance
- grandiosity
- disdain
- pretentiousness
- rudeness
- affectedness
- vainness
- smugness
- superiority
- confidence
- snobbery
- assertiveness
- complacency
- haughtiness
- imperiousness
- presumption
- vainglory
- snobbishness
- superciliousness
- hauteur
- egotism
- boldness
- conceit
- self-aggrandizement
- aggressiveness
- pompousness
- sureness
- boastfulness
- presumptuousness
- bumptiousness
- pride
- self-glorification
- self-satisfaction
- ostentation
- lordliness
- vaingloriousness
- braggadocio
- audaciousness
- self-assertion
- glitz
- mummery
- self-conceit
- cheekiness
- gaudiness
- self-importance
- cockiness
- showiness
- self-assurance
- self-assumption
- forwardness
- flamboyance
- ostentatiousness
- flashiness
- impudence
- grandiloquence
- garishness
- show
- self-consequence
- insolence
- self-confidence
- brassiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humility
- modesty
- humbleness
- meekness
- sincerity
- demureness
- timidity
- diffidence
- bashfulness
- shyness
- lowliness
- down-to-earthness
- naturalness
2
as in act
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive her display of bravado was just a pretense Synonyms & Similar Words
- act
- airs
- show
- charade
- pose
- affectation
- front
- semblance
- masquerade
- guise
- performance
- portrayal
- facade
- disguise
- façade
- playacting
- appearance
- put-on
- deception
- duplicity
- pretext
- persona
- fakery
- excuse
- cloak
- color
- impersonation
- deceit
- camouflage
- dissimulation
- dissembling
- image
- gloss
- falseness
- betrayal
- fraud
- guile
- treachery
- treason
- perfidy
- infidelity
- falsity
- double-dealing
- faithlessness
- double cross
- unfaithfulness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sincerity
- frankness
- candor
- directness
- bluntness
- straightforwardness
- forthrightness
- naïveté
- outspokenness
- naiveté
- naivete
- artlessness
- genuineness
- candidness
- openheartedness
- plainspokenness
3
as in pretension
an entitlement to something this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness Synonyms & Similar Words
- pretension
- claim
- right
- call
- prerogative
- dibs
- privilege
- title
- refusal
- birthright
- favor
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- waiver
- disclaimer
- release
- quitclaim
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogance
- superiority
- assumption
- attitude
- consequence
- pretension
- haughtiness
- superciliousness
- pomposity
- imperiousness
- vanity
- loftiness
- hauteur
- pretentiousness
- peremptoriness
- pompousness
- bumptiousness
- presumptuousness
- lordliness
- masterfulness
- high horse
- huffiness
- disdain
- pridefulness
- condescension
- self-importance
- snobbery
- side
- self-consequence
- pride
- toploftiness
- bravado
- scorn
- snobbishness
- inflation
- dominance
- snootiness
- snobbism
- bossiness
- boastfulness
- smugness
- triumphalism
- swagger
- authoritativeness
- vainglory
- cheekiness
- bombast
- brag
- egoism
- high-handedness
- sauciness
- bowwow
- impudence
- braggadocio
- chest-thumping
- cockiness
- egotism
- self-assertion
- conceit
- complacence
- vaingloriousness
- strut
- cheek
- impertinence
- swelled head
- self-satisfaction
- self-opinion
- self-complacency
- self-centeredness
- superiority complex
- self-content
- self-conceit
- self-assumption
- self-contentment
- self-partiality
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modesty
- humility
- unpretentiousness
- shyness
- bashfulness
- timidity
- diffidence
- demureness
- passivity
- meekness
- timidness
- submissiveness
- unassumingness
- passiveness
- quietness
- lowliness
- reservedness
- reserve
- retiringness
- self-distrust
- self-doubt
- mousiness