Pretender: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽญ
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pretender

 

[ prษชหˆtษ›ndษ™r ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

person

A person who pretends to be something they are not, especially in order to deceive others.

Synonyms

faker, fraud, impostor, sham.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pretender

used for someone who claims to be someone they are not, often to achieve power or influence.

  • The prince was revealed to be a pretender to the throne.
  • She was unmasked as a pretender, seeking to take over the family business.
impostor

describes someone who assumes a false identity, usually to deceive others for personal advantage. It often implies sneaking into roles or groups.

  • The man who claimed to be a doctor was actually an impostor.
  • The impostor managed to gain access to the classified documents.
faker

refers to someone who is not genuine, often deceiving others by pretending to be something they are not. This word has a negative connotation.

  • He was exposed as a faker after claiming to be a war hero.
  • Beware of fakers who try to sell you fake products online.
fraud

used to describe a deliberate deception for personal or financial gain, often criminal in nature. This scenario usually involves breaking the law.

  • She was convicted of fraud for embezzling company funds.
  • The Ponzi scheme was a massive fraud that affected thousands of investors.
sham

used to describe something that is not what it appears to be; often refers to situations, events, or objects rather than people. It has a very negative connotation implying deceit.

  • The so-called 'peace talks' were nothing but a sham.
  • Her concern for his well-being was a complete sham; she only cared about his money.

Examples of usage

  • He was exposed as a pretender who had never even been to medical school.
  • She was just a pretender, trying to fit in with the popular crowd.
  • Don't trust him, he's nothing but a pretender pretending to be your friend.
Context #2 | Noun

claim

A person who makes a false claim to a title or right.

Synonyms

claimant, imposter, usurper.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pretender

Pretender is used to describe someone who claims to have a right or title, often of a noble or royal position, but lacks the legitimate authority. The term is usually neutral in tone unless the claim is defraudent.

  • The duke was considered a pretender to the throne after the king's demise.
  • In the medieval era, many pretenders vied for the crown.
usurper

Usurper is used to describe someone who takes a position of power or authority illegitimately or through force. It is often used in historical or political contexts and carries a negative connotation.

  • The general was seen as a usurper after he seized power from the elected president.
  • Throughout history, many usurpers have risen to take thrones by force.
claimant

Claimant is generally used in formal or legal contexts when someone is asserting a right or demand to property, money, or a title. The term is neutral and factual.

  • The claimant appeared in court to discuss the inheritance dispute.
  • Several claimants registered their interest in the abandoned estate.
imposter

Imposter has a strong negative connotation and refers to someone who pretends to be someone else to deceive others. The focus is on the act of deceit and the intention to trick.

  • The imposter was discovered when the real doctor returned from his vacation.
  • She quickly realized her friend had invited an imposter to the gathering.

Examples of usage

  • The pretender to the throne was quickly overthrown by the rightful heir.
  • The pretender's false claims were exposed during the investigation.

Translations

Translations of the word "pretender" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น pretendente

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเคพเคตเฅ‡เคฆเคพเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Anwรคrter

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ penuntut

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั€ะตั‚ะตะฝะดะตะฝั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ pretendent

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ€™่ฃœ่€… (ใ“ใ†ใปใ—ใ‚ƒ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท prรฉtendant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ pretendiente

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท aday

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ›„๋ณด์ž

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุฏุนูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ uchazeฤ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ uchรกdzaฤ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ€™้€‰ไบบ (hรฒuxuวŽn rรฉn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ kandidat

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ umsรฆkjandi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ าฏะผั–ั‚ะบะตั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ™แƒแƒœแƒ“แƒ˜แƒ“แƒแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ namizษ™d

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ pretendiente

Etymology

The word 'pretender' originates from the Old French word 'pretendere', meaning 'to lay claim'. Over time, it evolved to refer to someone who falsely claims a title or right. In English, the term expanded to include individuals who pretend to be something they are not, often for deceptive purposes.

See also: pretend, pretended, pretenders, pretending, pretension, pretentious.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,370, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.