PRETENSE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PRETENSE?

Need another word that means the same as “pretense”? Find 9 synonyms and 30 related words for “pretense” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Pretense” are: guise, pretence, pretext, dissembling, feigning, pretension, pretending, simulation, make-believe

Pretense as a Noun

Definitions of "Pretense" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “pretense” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• An artful or simulated semblance.
• Imaginative intellectual play.
• The act of giving a false appearance.
• A false or unsupportable quality.
• Pretending with intention to deceive.

Synonyms of "Pretense" as a noun (9 Words)

dissembling	Pretending with intention to deceive.
feigning	Pretending with intention to deceive.
guise	An external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something. Sums paid under the guise of consultancy fees.
make-believe	Imaginative intellectual play.
pretence	An artful or simulated semblance. They have always avoided preciousness and pretence.
pretending	The enactment of a pretense. His conformity was only pretending.
pretension	A claim or assertion of a claim to something. His pretensions to the imperial inheritance.
pretext	Something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason. The rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move.
simulation	Imitation of a situation or process. Clever simulation that s good enough to trick you.

Associations of "Pretense" (30 Words)

affectation	A studied display of real or pretended feeling. She called the room her boudoir which he thought an affectation.
affection	A condition or disease. He had trouble expressing the affection he felt.
alibi	Exonerate by means of an alibi. Her friend agreed to alibi her.
appearance	The way that someone or something looks. The appearance of the railway.
attributable	(of a work or remark) able to be ascribed to a particular author, artist, or speaker. Some 50 liturgical works by or attributable to him have survived.
cherish	Keep (a hope or ambition) in one’s mind. He had long cherished a secret fantasy about his future.
condone	Approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance. Those arrested were released and the exhibition was officially condoned a few weeks later.
decorate	Confer an award or medal on (a member of the armed forces. The five bedrooms are individually decorated.
excuse	Defend explain clear away or make excuses for by reasoning. Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work.
fancy	Have a fancy or particular liking or desire for. A fancy computerized system.
flimsy	Not convincing. A flimsy argument.
fond	(followed by `of’ or `to’) having a strong preference or liking for. A fond farewell.
formal	Being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements as e g of formal dress. A formal ball.
guise	An external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something. He visited in the guise of an inspector.
justification	The action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God. All these incidents were used again as a justification for my sacking.
justify	Declare or make righteous in the sight of God. In most European languages you justify text by adding space between letters and words.
mannerism	An ordinary gesture or expression that becomes abnormal through exaggeration or repetition. He seemed deliberately to be stripping his art of mannerism.
outward	Outwards. The outward voyage.
palliation	To act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious.
pose	A posture assumed by models for photographic or artistic purposes. An armed gang posed as policemen to ambush a postman.
pretend	Represent fictitiously as in a play or pretend to be or act like. Dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish.
pretext	An artful or simulated semblance. The rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move.
prevarication	A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth.
rationalization	The process of converting a function or expression to a rational form. They justify themselves with ingenious rationalizations.
rationalize	Remove irrational quantities from. She couldn t rationalize her urge to return to the cottage.
reason	Present reasons and arguments. The children must learn to reason.
rococo	The rococo style of art decoration or architecture. The rococo style.
suppose	Expect believe or suppose. The procedure supposes that a will has already been proved.
validate	Check or prove the validity or accuracy of. He seems to need other women s attention to validate him as a man.
why	The cause or intention underlying an action or situation especially in the phrase the whys and wherefores. The whys and wherefores of these procedures need to be explained to students.