noun: pretence; plural noun: pretences; noun: pretense; plural noun: pretenses
an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.
“his anger is masked by a pretense that all is well”
make-believe, putting on an act, acting, dissembling, shamming, faking, feigning, simulation, dissimulation, play-acting, posturing; More
deception, deceit, deceitfulness, fraud, fraudulence, duplicity, subterfuge, trickery, dishonesty, hypocrisy, falsity, lying, mendacity
“cease this pretense”
(false) show,semblance, affectation, (false) appearance, outward appearance, impression, (false) front, guise, facade, display
“he made a pretense of being unconcerned”
a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions.
“he asked me questions without any pretense at politeness”
the practice of inventing imaginary situations in play.
“before the age of two, children start to engage in pretense”
affected and ostentatious speech and behavior.
pretentiousness, display, ostentation, affectation, showiness, posturing, humbug
“he was absolutely without pretense”
a claim, especially a false or ambitious one.
“he was quick to disclaim any pretense to superiority”
“she had dropped any pretense to faith”
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