Find Antonyms
pretend Antonyms
Opposite of pretend
Because the opposite of pretend shifts with each meaning, the 13 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• verb (Context 1)
To behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
Usage Example
"He closed his eyes and tried to reveal that he was fast asleep."
Strong
reveal
drop the act
come clean
• adjective (Context 2)
Not real or genuine; imaginary or make-believe (used especially in the context of children's play).
Usage Example
"She served her guests a cup of real tea from the miniature plastic teapot."
Strongest
real
genuine
authentic
actual
Strong
true
• verb (Context 3)
To lay claim to a quality, title, right, or merit (usually followed by 'to').
Usage Example
"The author does not disclaim to have all the answers to such a complex economic problem."
Strongest
disclaim
Strong
renounce
disavow
deny
disown
Similar words to pretend
Words similar to pretend shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
make believe
make-believe
feign
imaginary
claim
profess
fake
play-act
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Pretend. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/pretend