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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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
Via this probing, Iris cuts through societal pretense to the heart of what’s really going on, even if audiences themselves aren’t initially sure what’s going on themselves.
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David Opie, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
This pretense—like the episode with the monsters letting out the animals—shows a whole new level of cunning on the monsters’ part.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Under the pretense of protecting her family, Emilia sends her wife, Jessi (Gomez), and their children to Switzerland.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
When Avril moves in with a woman, resorting for a while to the pretense of separate bedrooms, this upheaval in their lives is barely mentioned.
—Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretense 
David Opie, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
This pretense—like the episode with the monsters letting out the animals—shows a whole new level of cunning on the monsters’ part.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Under the pretense of protecting her family, Emilia sends her wife, Jessi (Gomez), and their children to Switzerland.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
When Avril moves in with a woman, resorting for a while to the pretense of separate bedrooms, this upheaval in their lives is barely mentioned.
—Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
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According to Schrader, the key to Leonard Fife was simply stripping away all of Gere’s own mannerisms and affectations.Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
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Whereas past leading musical ladies have tried to contour their character to their own personality (consider, perhaps, when Emma Watson made sure Belle was wearing boots and not heels), Grande has taken Glinda’s affectations as her own.Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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PolitiFact debunked a similar version of the claim.Andre Byik, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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The current lawsuit stems from Lindell's public promise to pay anyone $5 million to disprove his claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged in Biden's favor, based on Lindell's claim of Chinese government interference.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Kudos are also due Christian Probst as a prince without a drop of royal arrogance.Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 12 Dec. 2024
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Barack Obama came across to his foes as the principle of arrogance.Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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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Prosecutors have described the murder as an act of terrorism, noting a notebook found on Mangione expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Wilco – Hot Sun Cool Shroud In June, Wilco held its 8th Solid Sound Festival in Massachusetts, playing multiple sets and curating a bill of some of their favorite acts.Al Shipley, SPIN, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Players in the space vary from fledgling startups to tech behemoths, all with their own claims about superiority and future capabilities.Erin Brodwin, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
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Arrogance is the mind’s attempt to mask insecurity with a sense of superiority.Darla Beam, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Brittany Cartwright took in the show with her 3-year-old son, Cruz.Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
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The second match sees the Houston Texans host Baltimore and in a gift for sports and music fans alike Beyonce will perform the half-time show.Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The acquisition also includes the assumption of over $2 billion in Nordstrom's debt, signaling a significant financial commitment from the buyers.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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This approach aligns seamlessly with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) principles, which advocate for continuous verification and the assumption that threats could exist both inside and outside the organization.Jeremy Vaughan, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pretense
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
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