1
as in poses
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
I pretended that I didn't care that my ex had a new man in her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in assumes
to present a false appearance of
as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretends
One big topic in the news these days is that AI often pretends to be your best friend and will praise you to the high heavens.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In the clip, the pair execute the moves to the song’s post-chorus, before a bonnet-wearing Colbert pretends to choke on something, causing Gaga to erupt in laughter.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2025
Seeing Laura come down the deck, Cherry pretends to be drowning.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Seizing the moment, Liza pretends to be half her age and reenters the publishing industry, landing a job as the assistant to the head of marketing at Empirical Press, Diana Trout (Miriam Shor).
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Argos and Odysseus recognize each other, but Odysseus pretends not to know Argos, for fear of being found out.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Charlie, a charming student, agrees to help if Avery pretends to be her girlfriend to make an ex jealous.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The 22-year-old USC grad pretends to be working in a New York City shop, perfecting the design on the Kobe 3 when Brunson, an interested customer, walks in.
—Natasha Dye, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
She’s relieved, at first, when Warhol pretends not to recognize her.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In the clip, the pair execute the moves to the song’s post-chorus, before a bonnet-wearing Colbert pretends to choke on something, causing Gaga to erupt in laughter.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2025
Seeing Laura come down the deck, Cherry pretends to be drowning.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Seizing the moment, Liza pretends to be half her age and reenters the publishing industry, landing a job as the assistant to the head of marketing at Empirical Press, Diana Trout (Miriam Shor).
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Argos and Odysseus recognize each other, but Odysseus pretends not to know Argos, for fear of being found out.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Charlie, a charming student, agrees to help if Avery pretends to be her girlfriend to make an ex jealous.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The 22-year-old USC grad pretends to be working in a New York City shop, perfecting the design on the Kobe 3 when Brunson, an interested customer, walks in.
—Natasha Dye, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
She’s relieved, at first, when Warhol pretends not to recognize her.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretends
Verb
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Still, confronting these spaces poses constitutional challenges.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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Dule Hill poses with PopViewers founder and CEO Chris Witherspoon.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The current system assumes the vice president will be available and capable, but simultaneous incapacity of both officials remains possible.—
Lynn Schmidt,
Twin Cities,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The company is targeting late 2025 for commercial deployment—an aggressive timeline that assumes hybrid architectures can deliver adequate performance without the extreme processing demands of pure ceramics.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the film, Bajpayee plays the police officer while Jim Sarbh essays the role of the killer who goes by the fictional name Carl Bhojraj.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Soil moisture also plays a huge role, with the MSU Forestry Extension adding that ample precipitation is required for the most robust displays of color.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Across the room, a tube is hooked up to another dummy and connected to a machine that simulates bleeding.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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The design simulates some key aspects of human perception and behavior, says Daniel Cervone, a professor of psychology specializing in personality theory at the University of Illinois Chicago.—
Webb Wright,
Scientific American,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The order, which, again, acts like one blanket prescription, allows pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to look at FDA approval for vaccines and not ACIP recommendations.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
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Now there’s the new Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray, a weightless setting spray that acts like a blurring and mattifying powder.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Someone who’s really living the Andrew Tate-like lifestyle Jacob only feigns is his bestie Cameron (Dylan Playfair).—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretends. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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