Need another word for Pretender? Use these synonyms of Pretender from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
imposter
fake
charlatan
deceiver
cheat
swindler
fraud
hoaxer
masquerader
poseur
sham
humbug
mountebank
quack
phony
counterfeit
pretentious
hypocrite
dissembler
impostor
bluffer
trickster
cheat
deceiver
dissembler
fraudster
hoaxster
charlatan
mountebank
quackster
shamster
Meaning of Pretender
A person who claims or pretends to be something they are not.
Definitions
- A person who claims or pretends to be something they are not, especially in order to gain advantage or profit.
- * A person who pretends to have a title, rank, or position, especially in order to gain power or prestige.
Etymology of Pretender
The word "pretender" comes from the Old French word "pretendre", which means "to claim or assert", derived from the Latin word "praetendere", which means "to stretch out before" or "to claim".
Historically, the term was used to describe individuals who falsely claimed a throne or title, especially during the Middle Ages.
Example Uses
- The pretender to the throne was revealed to be an imposter with no royal blood.
- * He was a pretender to the title of expert, but his lack of knowledge was soon exposed.