false pretension

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.

Dissimulā′tion, the act of dissembling: a hiding under a false appearance: false pretension: hypocrisy; Dissimulā′tor.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

There was always, and there will be always, a certain amount of false pretension in life which you may, if you like, call acting.

From Cornelius O'Dowd Upon Men And Women And Other Things In General by Lever, Charles James

Now, any British Mason will see at a glance that all this is a false pretension.

From Secret Societies And Subversive Movements by Webster, Nesta H.

The detection, it is true, is not so easy, because the objects are not so nigh at hand to compare, and therefore there is more room both for false pretension and for self-deceit.

From Table Talk Essays on Men and Manners by Hazlitt, William

He was willing to do it,—but was not willing that there should be any soft-worded, high-toned false pretension.

From The Prime Minister by Trollope, Anthony