SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
pretense
noun
A false appearance, claim, or show of something.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
False appearance
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPretense can be an act or an outward appearance. A pretext is specifically a stated reason that conceals the real one.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See pretense in use
The welcome was merely a pretense for gaining access to the diary.
Meanwhile, another visitor admitted that his request for directions had been a pretense for obtaining an early look at the letter.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license