Pretext

/ˈpɹiːtɛkst/

Synonyms for "pretext" (139 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (28)

Noun(4 words)

acting affectation alibi allege alternative apology appearance attitudinizing avow blind bluff bluffing camouflage cheating choice claim cloak color coloring cover

Show 4 more words

cover storycover updeception delusion

Strong matches (42)

device disguise dissemblance dissembling dissimulationescape clauseescape hatchexcuse explanation facade face fakery fakingfalse airfalse frontfalse showfalsity feigning feint four-flushing

Show 12 more words

fraud front gilt gloss guise handle humbug humbuggery idea imposture loophole mask

Noun(10 words)

disguise dodge excuse excuses fabricate feign feintsget outguises indisposition

Related words (69)

masquerade meretriciousness ostentationoutward showplayacting plea pose posing posture pretend pretense pretension professprotest too muchprotestation purportput offrational groundrationale rationalization

Show 38 more words

reasonreason forreason whyred herringrefuge representation right rusesaving clausescreen seeming semblance sham show simulacrum simulationsmoke screenspeciousnessstalking horsestallstated causestratagem subterfugethe big ideathe ideathe whatforthe whereforethe whytrickunderlying reasonvarnish veilway of escapeway outwhat forwherefore whywindow dressing

Noun(11 words)

masqueradenonsensical justificationpretence pretences pretend pretenses rationale ruses stalking-horse subterfuge subterfuges

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

15 entries

color colour deceive dissembling explanation feigning gloss justification misrepresent pretence pretense reasonrhetorical devicesemblance strategy

More specific

11 entries

bureaucratic pretexteconomic pretextfabricate feign inventlegal pretextmoral pretextnational security pretextpolitical pretextracial pretextstrategic pretext

Collocations

12 entries

fabricate a pretextfalse pretextgenuine pretextgive a pretextlegal pretextmake a pretextnational security pretextpolitical pretextpresent a pretextpretext forpretext for justificationprovide a pretext

Inflections

3 entries

pretexted pretexting pretexts

Derivations

3 entries

pretexts pretextual pretextually

Sample sentences

19 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

He often uses the slightest thing as a pretext for a fight with anybody.

Source: tatoeba (67969)

He made up a pretext for a fight with me.

Source: tatoeba (72041)

He came to my house on the pretext of seeing me.

Source: tatoeba (297581)

He delayed payment on some pretext or other.

Source: tatoeba (305934)

Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.

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