Word Finder - pretense

definition

A false or hypocritical profession

example

under pretense of friendliness

definition

Intention or purpose not real but professed.

example

with only a pretense of accuracy

definition

An unsupported claim made or implied.

definition

An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

From the pretense of illness, from his daughter's distress, and by the embarrassed faces of Sonya and Marya Dmitrievna, the count saw clearly that something had gone wrong during his absence, but it was so terrible for him to think that anything disgraceful had happened to his beloved daughter, and he so prized his own cheerful tranquillity, that he avoided inquiries and tried to assure himself that nothing particularly had happened; and he was only dissatisfied that her indisposition delayed their return to the country.

Without any pretense she was now afraid of everything.

These predators often make contact with kids through chat rooms and/or e-mail and often under the pretense of being kids themselves.

The committee abandoned any pretense that it was serious about the reform of our public services.

They were lured to the site of the show under the pretense that they were to appear in a "Mr.

Poyet - This book includes all the basic information about wine "minus the pretense" and "absent the arrogance".

However, there was little pretense that it was held on a strictly hereditary basis.

Finally she put down her fork and gave up the pretense.

I also think 5.1 is particularly obnoxious through its pretense to reach outwith the country of Nigeria.

She traces the many performances in theater and film as well as the popularity through the end of the 20th century, concluding that "The pretense ... is unnecessary-its raison d'être is the pleasure of the dance."

Anyone who has ever read anything about hackers will probably be aware of the particular penchant they have for pretense.

They will abandon all pretense of benign assistance in favor of a more oppressive approach.

Clarke had gone out with Mr. Reed, I believe, under the pretense of assisting the emigrants.

There's no pretense here to be creating new concepts or challenging any preconceptions.

Your country isn't Britain, it's Europe so drop the pretense and desist from claiming to care about employment levels in Britain.

Please note that there are also risks of dealing with underage persons or people acting under false pretense.

The pretense that official policy has been agreed in partnership with civil society is a complete sham.

The escape from pretense, the search for authenticity -- these are in great vogue in the world of today.

She is blind to Miss Drone 's tremulous smile of pretense that she has chosen to be a wallflower.

Then there's Fillmore Street in the Pacific Heights area which is upscale but without pretense.

Her work has no pretense of applicability to human medicine.

With elaborate gestures, she makes a pretense of twisting the inconsequential knobs.

It wasn't that long ago that men and women were confined in their choices by social pretense and modesty.

The princess, picking up her dress, was taking her seat in the dark carriage, her husband was adjusting his saber; Prince Hippolyte, under pretense of helping, was in everyone's way.

But much as all the rest laughed, talked, and joked, much as they enjoyed their Rhine wine, saute, and ices, and however they avoided looking at the young couple, and heedless and unobservant as they seemed of them, one could feel by the occasional glances they gave that the story about Sergey Kuzmich, the laughter, and the food were all a pretense, and that the whole attention of that company was directed to-- Pierre and Helene.