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
Jen has been complaining to Zac that Whitney only pretends to be her friend on camera.
—
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
The hypocrite pretends to be good because the hypocrite believes that society admires good and condemns wrong.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Pierson pretends not to hear it.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Importantly, though, VanArendonk adds that Bluey’s messages are powerful because the show never pretends that there is no struggle.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
On that occasion, deprived of racing in the Olympics but not of his morality, Vladyslav Heraskevych personified the exact principles the Olympic movement pretends to defend.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
Security researchers have uncovered a malicious Chrome and Edge extension called NexShield that pretends to be a fast, privacy-friendly ad blocker.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The story about a woman, who is considered a cursed bride, and her husband, who pretends to be possessed in an attempt to control her, is the first all-Pakistani feature at the Berlin International Film Festival, which has in the past featured Pakistani co-productions.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
No one pretends to extract any truth or significance.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
The hypocrite pretends to be good because the hypocrite believes that society admires good and condemns wrong.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Pierson pretends not to hear it.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Importantly, though, VanArendonk adds that Bluey’s messages are powerful because the show never pretends that there is no struggle.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
On that occasion, deprived of racing in the Olympics but not of his morality, Vladyslav Heraskevych personified the exact principles the Olympic movement pretends to defend.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
Security researchers have uncovered a malicious Chrome and Edge extension called NexShield that pretends to be a fast, privacy-friendly ad blocker.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The story about a woman, who is considered a cursed bride, and her husband, who pretends to be possessed in an attempt to control her, is the first all-Pakistani feature at the Berlin International Film Festival, which has in the past featured Pakistani co-productions.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
No one pretends to extract any truth or significance.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretends
Verb
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Unstable housing, missed school and lack of supervision can trigger detention even when a child poses no real threat.—
Jeffrey Shook,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Black carp often misidentified Correctly identifying black carp poses a challenge in tracking and controlling the species.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All the this, however, assumes something more complete than what the Heat offered Saturday against the Magic.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
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The measurement assumes the buyer has a 20% down payment, which in this case would be $80,360.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Staying socially engaged plays a meaningful role in maintaining cognitive health.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
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In this poignant courtroom drama, Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, an attorney who is fired from his law firm upon discovering his sexuality and his AIDS diagnosis.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their annual training that simulates fast-moving grass fires falls at the end of the warmest winter in Colorado history.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Ray tracing is a 3D rendering technology that simulates the behavior of light to produce realistic reflections and lighting effects.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lollapalooza has announced music acts for summer 2026, including headliners Charli xcx, Tate McRae, Lorde, Olivia Dean, John Summit, JENNIE of Blackpink, Smashing Pumpkins and The xx.—
Doug George,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Levity acts as a conduit for open-hearted vulnerability.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump often professes his support for farmers.—
Anthony Pahnke,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
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The upcoming exhibition's contemporary edge professes the importance of displaying Native American art of the present, to resist the erasure of living, thriving Indigenous American cultures and communities.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With his multi-instrumentalist bandmates, PJ Moore and co-songwriter Robert Bell, Buchanan zooms into these exchanges to prolong them or dissembles them into jagged pieces that leave the bigger picture to us.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
1 Feb. 2026
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
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The second man with a flail steps forward and feigns a move.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretends. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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