Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

under false pretense

ADJECTIVE
secret
Synonyms
STRONGEST
classified confidential covert furtive hush-hush restricted secretive surreptitious
STRONG
backdoor backstairs close inside sneak
WEAK
camouflaged cryptic discreet disguised dissembled dissimulated in ambush incognito sly sneaky stealthy sub-rosa top-secret unacknowledged under-the-table underhanded
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aboveboard forthright honest known open public
WEAK
clear defined explicit legal legitimate revealed unconcealed

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.

Eight crimes listed in the 1890 version of the provision - bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement and bigamy - remain as disqualifying offenses today.

From Reuters • Jun. 30, 2023

However, the real-time spread of information has also inflamed people under false pretense.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2020

Lying to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. under false pretense is illegal.

From Fox News • Sep. 24, 2018

I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will never send our sons and daughters to war under false pretense or pretenses or into dubious battles with no end in sight.

From The Guardian • Nov. 19, 2015

When he fails to do so, he violates his contract, breaks his pledge of honor, obtains goods under false pretense.

From Explanation of Catholic Morals A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals by Stapleton, John H. (John Henry)