Synonyms of pretending

pretending 1 of 2

adjective

as in hypocritical

Related Words

• hypocritical
• duplicitous
• insincere
• posing
• dissimulating
• dissembling
• bluffing
• unscrupulous
• untrustworthy
• unreliable
• equivocating
• unbelievable
• deceptive
• lying
• evasive
• sneaky
• treacherous
• wily
• deceitful
• undependable
• tricky
• sly
• underhanded
• slick
• slippery
• devious
• artful
• untrue
• fallacious
• dishonest
• false
• mendacious
• fibbing
• prevaricating
• untruthful

Dissimilar Words

• honest
• truthful
• direct
• plain
• open
• veracious
• forthcoming
• frank
• outspoken
• true
• candid
• forthright
• believable
• credible
• veritable
• out-front
• plainspoken
• freehearted
• openhearted
• free-spoken
• foursquare

pretending

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pretend

1

as in posing

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

• posing
• playing
• acting
• faking
• masquerading
• simulating
• dissembling
• assuming
• dissimulating
• concealing
• making believe
• making a show
• letting on
• impersonating
• feigning
• disguising
• professing
• making out
• making a pretense
• putting on an act
• shamming
• playacting
• putting up a front
• masking
• affecting
• camouflaging
• counterfeiting
• bluffing
• putting on
• feinting

2

as in simulating

to present a false appearance of

as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• simulating
• assuming
• acting
• feigning
• affecting
• professing
• faking
• bluffing
• posing
• shamming
• passing (for)
• dissembling
• concealing
• counterfeiting
• playing
• forging
• masquerading
• imitating
• putting on
• impersonating
• making believe
• disguising
• camouflaging
• masking
• dissimulating
• playacting
• letting on
• malingering
• feinting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pretending

Adjective

There can be no more pretending, briefing or hiding. — Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Verb

In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026

The man pretending to be a teen was then contacted by 34-year-old Juan Leonel Jimenez Silva, according to police. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

October 06, 2026 Optimism isn’t about ignoring problems or pretending everything will work out. — Harvard Business Review, 6 Oct. 2026

Johnson, in an exclusive interview with CNBC ahead of the Friday announcement, blamed Texas Republicans for pretending to shrink the state government and outsourcing essential duties to contractors. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Brown's fourth-quarter touchdown celebration included putting his hand to his crotch and then to his face before pretending to pass out. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

If Gayle Newland had been a cis man who had seduced Miss X by pretending to be Kye Fortune, the case would have fallen outside the McNally principle, and Miss X would have had very little chance of having her complaint heard. — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

Leaders don’t need every answer—pretending certainty can undermine credibility. — Andriana Eliadis, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

In a video posted on Facebook, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said that the scam involves callers contacting residents in Florida and all over the country pretending to be law enforcement. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026