WordWeb Online

1. The act of giving a false appearance
   "his conformity was only pretending"
   - pretense [N. Amer], pretence [Brit, Cdn], simulation, feigning

1. Make believe with the intent to deceive
   - feign, sham, affect, dissemble
    
2. Behave unnaturally or affectedly
   - dissemble, act
    
3. Put forward a claim and assert right or possession of
   "pretend the title of King"
    
4. Put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
   "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong"
   - guess, venture, hazard
    
5. Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like
   - make, make believe
    
6. State insincerely
   "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber"; "She pretends to be an expert on wine"
   - profess

Derived forms: pretendings

See also: pretender, pretense [N. Amer], pretension

Type of: act, arrogate, belie, claim, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, lay claim, misrepresent, play, represent, speculate

Encyclopedia: Pretend