Synonyms for
Pretending
Definition
Pretending means to act as if something is true when it is not true.
Synonyms & similar words
dissemble
act
guess
sham
pretend
make
feign
hazard
pretense
affect
makebelieve
profess
venture
pretence
feigning
simulation
faking
feigning
acting
simulating
shamming
playing
performing
assuming
posturing
posing
dissembling
deceiving
dissimulating
misleading
deluding
tricking
hoodwinking
bamboozling
beguiling
Synonyms by register
Formal
Informal
Literary
Antonyms
Common collocations
- pretending to be
- pretending to know
- pretending to care
- pretending to sleep
- pretending to be sick
- pretending to understand
- pretending to be happy
Word family
Usage note
While 'pretending' often implies deception, it can also refer to playful imagination, especially in children. Be mindful of the context to avoid misinterpretation.
Example sentences
- He was pretending to be a superhero and saving the world.
- She was pretending to be a doctor and taking care of her toys.
- I caught him pretending to be a dinosaur and making loud noises.
- He was pretending to be a chef and cooking imaginary food.
- She was pretending to be a teacher and teaching her stuffed animals.
Quotes
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Nelson Mandela
Believe you can and you're halfway there. - Theodore Roosevelt
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. - Steve Jobs