🎭pretext

Meaning

A false reason given to hide the real purpose or motive.

a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason

Example Sentences

He went out on the pretext of buying groceries.

He used illness as a pretext to avoid the meeting.

Example Expressions

under the pretext of

Synonyms

excuse, pretense, cover, guise, justification, alibi, front

Entry 1

excuse, pretense, cover, guise, justification

Entry 2

excuse, justification, cover, alibi, front

Antonyms

truth, reality, honesty, genuine reason, real motive

Entry 1

truth, reality, honesty

Entry 2

genuine reason, real motive, truth

Collocations

under the pretext, flimsy pretext, on the pretext, false pretext, under pretext, use pretext, provide pretext

Entry 1

under the pretext, flimsy pretext, on the pretext, false pretext

Entry 2

under pretext, false pretext, use pretext, provide pretext