Find Synonyms

pretend Synonyms

Another word for pretend

Choosing another word for pretend depends on context, so the 33 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• 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 feign that he was fast asleep."

Strongest
feign
fake
Strong
simulate
affect
put on
dissemble
sham
counterfeit
Weak
bluff
posture

• verb (Context 2)

To engage in imaginative play by acting out a fictional role or situation.

Usage Example

"The children loved to make believe they were astronauts exploring a distant planet."

Strongest
make believe
play-act
Strong
role-play
imagine
fantasize
Weak
daydream

• adjective (Context 3)

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 make-believe tea from the miniature plastic teapot."

Strongest
make-believe
imaginary
Strong
play
mock
fake
imitation
simulated
fictional
toy
Weak
ersatz

• verb (Context 4)

To lay claim to a quality, title, right, or merit (usually followed by 'to').

Usage Example

"The author does not claim to have all the answers to such a complex economic problem."

Strongest
claim
profess
purport
Strong
aspire
lay claim
presume
allege
assert

Opposites of pretend

The opposite of pretend shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

real
genuine
authentic
disclaim
actual
true
renounce
disavow
See all opposites of pretend

• Nearby Words

pretax
preteen
preteenager
pretend
pretender
pretense
pretension

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Pretend. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/pretend
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