pretext

noun

Definition of pretextnext
as in justification
a false ground that you give to hide why you are really doing something The leaders used a minor clash at the border as a pretext for war.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pretext contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pretext are alibi, apologia, apology, excuse, and plea. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

Where would alibi be a reasonable alternative to pretext?

The synonyms alibi and pretext are sometimes interchangeable, but alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

When might apologia be a better fit than pretext?

While the synonyms apologia and pretext are close in meaning, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When is it sensible to use apology instead of pretext?

In some situations, the words apology and pretext are roughly equivalent. However, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

In what contexts can excuse take the place of pretext?

The meanings of excuse and pretext largely overlap; however, excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

When would plea be a good substitute for pretext?

The words plea and pretext are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

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 pretext Past commencements have seen controversy A major question mark hanging over the commencement is whether any participants will make political statements at a time the university is trying to avoid any activity the Trump administration could use as a pretext for more punishment. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 Poverty is a pretext for surveillance, over-policing and incarceration. —Rod Adams, Essence, 25 May 2025 By creating pretext tasks, SSL models can learn the underlying structure of financial time series and identify deviations indicative of anomalous activities. —Yidi Xu, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 Abu Hassan also suggested that the audio clip had been a faked pretext for the violence, saying this was really about settling old scores in the aftermath of Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war. —Euan Ward, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretext
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretext
  1. justification
  2. reason
  3. excuse
  4. pretense
  5. guise
Noun
  • While Israel’s official justification—or casus belli—was to halt Iran’s nuclear advancements, Israel likely had broader strategic objectives in mind.
    — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • On these platforms, the protests are less a news event than a justification for the authoritarian use of force.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Definition of justification
Noun
  • Or maybe, for a million reasons, your recent expectations of how family life should be are not aligned with reality.
    — Denise Snodell, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2025
  • And both have, for different reasons, chosen to confront the very institutions and leaders that have helped sustain their growth.
    — Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Summary Stop making excuses and embrace courage for business growth.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
  • While the parade honors the Army, some Democrats have accused Trump of using the anniversary as an excuse to mark his birthday, comparing the event to the military parades of autocratic regimes such as Russia and North Korea.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
Definition of excuse
Noun
  • Perhaps Posey will look into that now that the pretense of the campaign has been lost.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
  • UConn is already closing small classes and programs on the pretense of efficiency, while asking faculty to teach increasingly larger classes.
    — Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
Definition of pretense
Noun
  • This was a trouncing of historical proportions, the biggest margin of defeat in the history of the Champions League final, both in its current version and its previous guise as European Cup.
    — Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Newspapers, once only a platform to distribute daily happenings, are continuing to inspire, only in a different guise.
    — Samantha Tse, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Definition of guise

Browse Nearby Words

pretests
pretext
pretexts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pretext.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretext. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on pretext

Nglish: Translation of pretext for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All