Pretendedly is an adverb used to describe an action or behavior that is done in a way that is false, feigned, or not genuine. It implies that the person performing the action is intentionally creating an illusion, mimicking a feeling, or engaging in a behavior that they do not actually possess or believe in. It often suggests a degree of insincerity or artifice. The word highlights a contrast between appearance and reality, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the deception. It can refer to emotional displays, actions, or even beliefs that are not authentic.
Pretendedly meaning with examples
- She cried pretendedly, dabbing at her dry eyes with a handkerchief to appear sympathetic after hearing her rivals loss. The other players knew that she didn't actually care, but played along to keep the peace, even though they knew she was a terrible person to be around and they would never associate with her if they didn't have to.
- He laughed pretendedly at his boss's unfunny jokes, knowing his bonus depended on it. His forced mirth was obvious to his colleagues, who shared knowing glances as they felt their own bonus slipping away. Their job security was very important to each of them so they just pretended to laugh.
- The politician smiled pretendedly during the debate, attempting to project an air of sincerity and confidence, despite the fact he had cheated on his wife and stolen money from the poor. His opponent called him out on his disingenuous behavior, which damaged his public image.
- The child sulked pretendedly to avoid a chore, hoping her parents would give in and do it for her. Her dramatic pout and slumped shoulders were a clear sign of her manipulative tactics, as her parents rolled their eyes and started to make the dinner.
- She claimed to be thrilled about her gift, but the fact that she had a neutral expression and sounded monotone, proved that she felt pretendedly happy, hoping to avoid hurting her gift giver's feelings. She was a great actress, but she was bad at hiding that she was lying.