pretenses
- plural of pretense.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Both suspects were arrested following the search and now face multiple felony charges, including grand theft, receiving stolen property and theft by false pretenses, according to authorities.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
But that news is tempered by the drumbeat of reports from the other end of the airport, where scores of arriving travelers have been detained in frightening conditions and under flimsy pretenses.
From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025
Divorced and seemingly otherwise alone — she thinks of her housekeeper as “my friend” — she’s connecting under false pretenses with a teenage boy she gave up as a baby for adoption.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2025
It is positively thrilling to see someone act at this level, so much so that Kidman’s performance demands that the viewer shed all pretenses.
From Salon • Dec. 30, 2024
Her mom had never put up any pretenses about being overly religious.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
