Synonyms for PRETEXT
ˈpri tɛkstpre·text

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. pretextverb

   Synonyms:
   blag

2. pretextverb

   To employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else.

   The spy obtained his phone records using possibly-illegal pretexting methods.

   Synonyms:
   blag

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. pretext

   A pretense, in the unfavorable, which is also the usual sense, is something advanced or displayed for the purpose of concealing the reality. A person makes a pretense of something for the credit or advantage to be gained by it; he makes what is allowed or approved a pretext for doing what would be opposed or condemned; a tricky schoolboy makes a pretense of doing an errand which he does not do, or he makes the actual doing of an errand a pretext for playing truant. A ruse is something (especially something slight or petty) employed to blind or deceive so as to mask an ulterior design, and enable a person to gain some end that he would not be allowed to approach directly. A pretension is a claim that is or may be contested; the word is now commonly used in an unfavorable sense. Compare ARTIFICE; HYPOCRISY.

   Synonyms:
   affectation, air, assumption, cloak, color, disguise, dissimulation, excuse, mask, pretense, pretension, ruse, seeming, semblance, show, simulation, subterfuge, trick, wile

   Antonyms:
   actuality, candor, fact, frankness, guilelessness, honesty, ingenuousness, openness, reality, simplicity, sincerity, truth

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pretext, stalking-horsenoun

   something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason

   Synonyms:
   pretence, guise, stalking-horse, pretense, pretext

2. guise, pretense, pretence, pretextnoun

   an artful or simulated semblance

   "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"

   Synonyms:
   pretending, pretence, pretext, simulation, pretense, pretension, feigning, guise, make-believe, stalking-horse, dissembling

Matched Categories

1. • Pretense
   • Semblance

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pretextnoun

   Synonyms:
   show (to conceal a thing done), appearance, affectation, simulation, mask, color, PRETENCE

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "pretext":

   excuse, guise, pretence, alibi, pretense, cloak

How to pronounce PRETEXT?

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use PRETEXT in a sentence?

1. Leonid Volkov:

   We all understand perfectly that there is no extremism in (our) work... The extremism allegation is being used purely as a pretext for political repression.

2. John Kirby:

   We do have information that the Russians are likely to want to fabricate a pretext for an invasion, which, again, is right out of their playbook.

3. Zhao Lijian:

   I think the U.S. cares nothing about human rights, it is only using this as a pretext to oppress Chinese companies, destabilize Xinjiang and slander China's Xinjiang policy.

4. Justice Thomas:

   Virtually every significant agency action is vulnerable to the kinds of allegations the Court credits today, it is not difficult for political opponents of executive actions to generate controversy with accusations of pretext, deceit, and illicit motives.

5. Mukaibar Shah:

   Doctors are sucking a large sum of money from everyone under the pretext of Corona and the forged reports are being made