Definitions

pretend

[pri-tend] / prɪˈtɛnd /

VERB

fake, falsify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assume bluff feign fool impersonate profess purport put on

STRONG

act affect allege beguile cheat claim counterfeit cozen deceive delude dissemble dissimulate dupe fish fudge hoodwink jazz jive malinger masquerade mislead sham simulate stonewall sucker whitewash

WEAK

be deceitful be hypocritical claim falsely fake out lay claim let on make out pass off pass oneself off as put up a front

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest deny reveal tell the truth

VERB

play the part of

Synonyms

STRONGEST

imitate impersonate purport suppose

STRONG

act imagine masquerade mimic play playact portray pose represent reproduce

WEAK

assume the role make as if make believe make out like make up put on a front put on airs put on an act

Antonyms

STRONGEST

be original differ oppose reverse

STRONG

stop

WEAK

be honest tell the truth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"So if somebody says something, I can pretend I didn't hear it."

From BBC

To take his journey, Mr. Mian pretended to be not a journalist but a scholar writing a history of the Volga.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was overwhelming, and I think I just wanted to pretend that it wasn’t and that I was comfortable with it.

From Salon

It’s almost cute that Ring, Flock and other tech companies pretend to be nothing but innocent bystanders in all this.

From Salon

“I’m not going to pretend I can tell you what was going on in their heads but I tried to make people feel like they were there when it happened,” Fischer said.

From Los Angeles Times

pretend

Example Sentences

Related Words