PRETEND Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'pretend' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pretend are affect , assume , counterfeit , feign , sham , and simulate . While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance. // pretended that nothing had happened

Q: Where would 'affect' be a reasonable alternative to 'pretend'?

In some situations, the words affect and pretend are roughly equivalent. However, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling. // affected an interest in art

Q: When might 'assume' be a better fit than 'pretend'?

Although the words assume and pretend have much in common, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive. // assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

Q: In what contexts can 'counterfeit' take the place of 'pretend'?

The meanings of counterfeit and pretend largely overlap; however, counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words. // an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

Q: How does the word 'feign' relate to other synonyms for 'pretend'?

Feign implies more artful invention than pretend , less specific mimicry than simulate . // feigned sickness

Q: When is 'sham' a more appropriate choice than 'pretend'?

The words sham and pretend can be used in similar contexts, but sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible. // shammed a most unconvincing limp

Q: When can 'simulate' be used instead of 'pretend'?

While in some cases nearly identical to pretend , simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something. // cosmetics that simulate a suntan

pretend 1 of 2

verb

pri-ˈtend

Definition of pretend

as in to pose

to take on a false or deceptive appearance I pretended that I didn't care that my ex had a new man in her life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to assume

to present a false appearance of as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work

Synonyms & Similar Words

pretend

2 of 2

adjective

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials if you were to see the movie's pretend jewels in real life, you wouldn't be fooled for a minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in imaginary

not real and existing only in the imagination it's just a pretend gun, so please pretend that I got you and play dead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pretend contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pretend are affect, assume, counterfeit, feign, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

Where would affect be a reasonable alternative to pretend?

In some situations, the words affect and pretend are roughly equivalent. However, affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

When might assume be a better fit than pretend?

Although the words assume and pretend have much in common, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

In what contexts can counterfeit take the place of pretend?

The meanings of counterfeit and pretend largely overlap; however, counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

How does the word feign relate to other synonyms for pretend?

Feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When is sham a more appropriate choice than pretend?

The words sham and pretend can be used in similar contexts, but sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When can simulate be used instead of pretend?

While in some cases nearly identical to pretend, simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pretend

Verb

That doesn’t mean there aren't others more than willing to pretend. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 To pretend otherwise, to act as if survival in these conditions is simply beyond this group, underrates them but is fundamentally far too kind to them. — Ben Jones, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Having such big feelings about the pretend baseball team strikes me as exhausting, among other things. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 6 May 2026 This year, three mining corporations looking to expand their operations sponsored, for the first time, Calico California Days, a festival at Calico Ghost Town with pretend panning and gun-drawing contests. — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pretend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretend

Verb

Their focus is principally Travis Kelce, who is reclined on an outdoor sofa, posing for a Tommy Hilfiger campaign.

— Nick Remsen, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during winter pose Kyiv’s toughest challenge of the war yet, as per officials and national security experts.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of pose

Verb

Goldman’s model assumes SMIC will add between 30,000 and 50,000 advanced-node wafers in monthly capacity each year from 2026 through 2031.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Golden Tempo, meanwhile, assumed his position near the back of the field as his deep closing style has delivered huge glory in the past.

— Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of assume

Adjective

The silhouette currently retails for $1,650 and features faux distressing across the uppers and toe box, making these heels look lived-in.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 23 Aug. 2026
Use double-sided tape to attach a faux fur circle to the lid, and embellish the rim with colored tape.

— Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of faux

Verb

These allow manufacturers to simulate how fibers blend or how construction adjustments will perform before starting a full production run.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
And most simulants of lunar material are faithful in their geological characteristics, to simulate the lunar surface and its dust, rather than the precise chemistry within.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of simulate

Adjective

When the Followers began, healthcare on the Western frontier was primitive, unsanitary and riddled with con artists peddling fake cures.

— Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
One is the behavior Mythos engaged in, which included spinning up fake GitHub accounts, and, in at least one case, impersonating a real software developer, to try to convince Demir to drop his objections to the dangerous code.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

The undercover analyst noted in a message that his fictitious 4-year-old brother would be home the next day, when the Perez meeting was expected.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2026
Final testing relied on fictitious data instead of the real records of millions of residents.

— Komal Goyal, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of fictitious

Browse Nearby Words

preteens

pretend

pretended

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“Pretend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretend. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pretend

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adjective

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