pretended

[pri-ten-did]

adjective

1. insincerely or falsely professed.

   a pretended interest in art.

2. feigned, fictitious, or counterfeit.

   His pretended wealth was proved to be nonexistent.

3. alleged or asserted; reputed.

Other Word Forms

• pretendedly adverb
• self-pretended adjective
• unpretended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretended¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; pretend, -ed ²

Example Sentences

Judge Williams said Villafane charmed his partner and pretended to be caring and generous.

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He said he realized he needed to quit when he pretended he needed to use the bathroom while he was hanging out with friends so he could return to his chatbots.

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Some pretended to be difficult customers to allow the waitstaff to rehearse for future nitpicking.

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The post–Plaza Accord bargain, where Japan lent America back the money that Americans spent on Japanese exports, was built on temporary conditions that everyone pretended were permanent.

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Madame pretended to be heartbroken, but she had no interest in caring for the child either, and so the boy would have to stay home.

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