pre·tense
?pr??tens,pr??tens/
noun
noun: pretence; plural noun: pretences; noun: pretense; plural noun: pretenses
- 1.an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.“his anger is masked by a pretense that all is well”
synonyms: 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”antonyms: honesty - 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.
synonyms: pretentiousness, display, ostentation, affectation, showiness, posturing, humbug “he was absolutely without pretense”
- 2.a claim, especially a false or ambitious one.“he was quick to disclaim any pretense to superiority”
synonyms: claim, profession “she had dropped any pretense to faith”
