Synonyms for pretext
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Pretense
pretense US, pretence UK, excuse, guise, subterfuge, disguise, pretension, semblance, cloak, mask, show, affectation, appearance, blind, color US, colour UK, gloss, simulation, seeming, veil
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.
The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.
Forms
- Plural
- pretexts → pretenses, excuses, guises, subterfuges…
Choose the right word
A pretext is something woven up in order to cover or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or reasons. Pretext is often, but not always, used in a bad sense.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- excuse Excuse me, but where is the men's shoe department?
- guise Life's aspirations come in the guise of children.
- pretense He made a pretense of knowing my father.
- subterfuge I apologize for the subterfuge.
- alibi You don't have an alibi for the day of the murder.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| pretext | steady | |
| excuse | rising | |
| guise | steady | |
| pretense | rising | |
| subterfuge | steady | |
| alibi | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- show1, mask1, plea1, veil1
- 5 letters
- color2, blind1, stall1, cloak1, guise1, gloss1, alibi3
- 6 letters
- excuse2, colour2
- 7 letters
- seeming2
- 8 letters
- disguise2, pretense2, pretence
- 9 letters
- semblance2
- 10 letters
- appearance3, simulation4, subterfuge3, pretension3
- 11 letters
- affectation4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (color2 = 2 syllables).