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pretense

/prɪˈtɛns/  ·  say it: prih·TENS

a false show of something

In Nuance & Precision

In more detail

1. (noun) a false claim or appearance that something is true when it is not

2. (noun) an attempt to seem important or impressive in a way that is not genuine

Examples

• 1. He made a pretense of being sick to avoid going to work.
• 2. She spoke without pretense about her mistakes and failures.

How to use pretense

Pretense refers to a deliberate false claim or affected behavior intended to deceive or impress. It differs from facade in emphasizing the active deception or affectation, while facade often describes the outward appearance itself. The term is commonly used in the phrase 'under the pretense of' when describing a false justification for an action.

Common phrases

• under the pretense of
• drop the pretense
• false pretense
• without pretense
• thin pretense

Synonyms

facade · pretence · affectation · guise · charade

Opposites

authenticity · genuineness · sincerity

Word family

pretentious · pretend · pretender

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse pretense (the false appearance or claim) with pretension (excessive or unjustified pride in one's importance), though the words are related and can overlap in meaning.

Nearby in Nuance & Precision

veneer, facade, guise, nuance, finesse, tact

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained