pretense
About 1.48 uses per million words.
Meaning
- noun The action of pretending; false or simulated show or appearance; false or hypocritical assertion or representation.
He visited the king under the pretense of friendliness.
- noun Affectation or ostentation of manner.
She was a plain-speaking woman without a hint of pretense.
- noun Intention or purpose not real but professed.
with only a pretense of accuracy
- noun An unsupported claim made or implied.
- noun An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.
- noun Intention; design.
Similar words
feigning pretence make-believe pretending dissembling pretension simulation pretext sham airs
Often followed by
of that to and at is or for in
Word family
pretence pretences pretenses
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