pretended

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​tend·​ed pri-ˈten-dəd How to pronounce pretended (audio)
Synonyms of pretendednext
: professed or avowed but not genuine
pretended affection
pretendedly adverb

pretended

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of pretend entry 1

Synonyms of pretended

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Adjective

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Examples of pretended in a Sentence

Adjective he shows a pretended affection for his girlfriend's cat hoped that his pretended interest in classical music would impress the boss

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from past participle of pretenden "to pretend entry 1"

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretended was in the 15th century

Rhymes for pretended

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Browse Nearby Words

pretendant
pretended
pretender
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Cite this Entry

“Pretended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretended. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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