pretext

noun

Definition of pretextnext
as in justification
a false ground that you give to hide why you are really doing something The leaders used a minor clash at the border as a pretext for war.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun pretext contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pretext are alibi, apologia, apology, excuse, and plea. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

Where would alibi be a reasonable alternative to pretext?

The synonyms alibi and pretext are sometimes interchangeable, but alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

When might apologia be a better fit than pretext?

While the synonyms apologia and pretext are close in meaning, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When is it sensible to use apology instead of pretext?

In some situations, the words apology and pretext are roughly equivalent. However, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

In what contexts can excuse take the place of pretext?

The meanings of excuse and pretext largely overlap; however, excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

When would plea be a good substitute for pretext?

The words plea and pretext are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pretext Earlier that same year, the U.S. invaded Iraq on the pretext of President Saddam Hussein developing weapons of mass destruction. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 And in recent weeks, under the pretext of fighting antisemitism, Trump threatened a handful of elite universities with the loss of federal funds, all in blue states, including Evanston’s Northwestern University. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025 As in the past, these invocations of national security offer the pretext for the government’s efforts to stifle dissent and to mandate political conformity. —Rick Baldoz, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025 Last week, the Senate — with the help of four Republicans (Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski) — voted to terminate Trump’s previous national emergency declaration on fentanyl trafficking, the legal pretext for imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports. —Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretext
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretext
  1. justification
  2. reason
  3. excuse
  4. pretense
  5. guise
Noun
  • And still others, eyes already on 2028, are quietly offering up preemptive justifications before the blame begins to settle.
    — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
  • This revelation follows the Trump administration's use of the fight against antisemitism as a justification for deporting pro-Palestinian student protesters and implementing funding cuts to universities.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 May 2025
Definition of justification
Noun
  • The reality is that Kevin Durant prioritizes being on the court (75 games two seasons ago) and the only reason his game total was down to 62 this past season was because the Suns shut him down.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2025
  • There’s a reason the studio’s nickname is the Magic Kingdom.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 May 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Wednesday, May 28, is National Hamburger Day, giving burger chains an excuse to offer their customers some deals.
    — Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
  • And what is a podcast, after all, if not an excuse to hang out with people who seem cool?
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 28 May 2025
Definition of excuse
Noun
  • After his arrest, Duffy had faked amnesia and sought asylum in a psychiatric hospital, where doctors prevented the police from interrogating him, but the pretense of the amnesia was exposed at the trial by his ex-wife and a friend.
    — Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • May 8 Theft by false pretense: Someone contacted a Saratoga resident, claiming to be a member of the Federal Trade Commission.
    — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
Definition of pretense
Noun
  • The show’s divergence here is enormous, first by grounding Tommy in Jackson rather than as the leader of the violent excursion and secondly removing any guise about Ellie’s intentions.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
  • The kit is being sold under the ridiculous guise of an educational tool.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of guise

Browse Nearby Words

pretests
pretext
pretexts
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Cite this Entry

“Pretext.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretext. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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