Meaning & use
pretense
A false show of a particular feeling, quality, or intention, or a false reason given to hide the true one.
See it in a sentence
He dropped the pretense of politeness once the cameras stopped rolling.
She gained entry to the building under the pretense of delivering a package.
A note on using this word
Pretense is often used in the phrase 'under the pretense of,' describing a deceptive cover story for a person's real motive.
Words with a similar meaning
deceptionfacade
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
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