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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
her display of bravado was just a pretense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in right
an entitlement to something
this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pretense
People finally get to see me, and there's no pretense about that.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
In 2024, any remaining pretense of saving energy disappeared.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The food is serious and creative but served without pretense.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
In 2024, any remaining pretense of saving energy disappeared.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The food is serious and creative but served without pretense.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretense
Noun
-
The elder Taylor exuded the easy-going charm of a music legend who is free of any airs or affectations.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While Metcalf’s Linda adopts a facade of stoicism to shield her family from the grief erupting in her, Abbott’s Biff is forced to reveal the broken man behind the defiant veneer.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The southern façade, for instance, is entirely solid—no windows, no openings—to shield the interior from the most brutal solar rays.—
Nick Mafi,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The two heartthrobs have also become fashion icons in their own right.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
-
The Declaration’s insurrectionist contention—that people, when unjustly provoked, have the right to dissolve their government—hung heavily in a country that had just witnessed the eleven states of the Confederacy make the same argument.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The arrogance here, however, is the gunman’s.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The doctor further explained that the traits of a narcissist encompass low empathy, arrogance, entitlement, grandiosity and pathological selfishness.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Spiegelman uses the term micro-looting, dressing up petty theft in political pretensions.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Service feels attentive without formality or pretension.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
However, her origin myth, in which she was hatched from an egg laid by her mother, Leda, who had been ravished by Zeus in the guise of a swan, is plainly invention.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This pliable guise is partially what makes his persona such a durable meme.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To go with his ancestral claims, Church, who had been drawing obsessively since early childhood, also inherited an artistic mantle.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Moscow did not immediately acknowledge Zelenskyy's claims regarding either strike.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
There are those who once thought that the superiority of machines would cause a crisis for chess—and for humanity.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Piech wanted to show off the superiority of VW Group’s engineering.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretense. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
