Pretense (Noun)
Meaning 1
An artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
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Meaning 2
A false or unsupportable quality.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
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Hypernyms
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Meaning 3
Pretending with intention to deceive.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
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Meaning 4
Imaginative intellectual play.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
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Meaning 5
The act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- Their seemingly harmonious relationship was just a pretense for the sake of the children.
- She maintained the pretense of being interested in the conversation, but her mind had wandered off.
- Under the pretense of needing help with her math homework, he was actually trying to get close to her.
- The politician's concern for the environment was widely seen as a pretense to get votes from the eco-friendly crowd.
- He kept up the pretense of being a successful businessman, even after his company went bankrupt.