pretext
noun
Example Sentences
Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 The charge against Bowman has been widely seen as a pretext for cracking down on her for views the government may have considered critical, although her business was operated as a consultancy and did not play a notably vocal role in public affairs. BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2022 Her killing raised concerns that Russia would use the bombing as a pretext for escalating its six-month war in Ukraine. Harold Maass, The Week, 23 Aug. 2022 American and Taiwanese officials have accused China of using Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for intimidating moves, and a senior U.S. official said recently that Washington would continue to deepen its ties with Taiwan in the coming days and weeks. Johnson Lai, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2022 American and Taiwanese officials have accused China of using Pelosi's visit as a pretext for intimidating moves, and a senior U.S. official said recently that Washington would continue to deepen its ties with Taiwan in the coming days and weeks. CBS News, 15 Aug. 2022 Germany, Russia’s biggest gas customer in the European Union, has called the moves an economic attack, saying that Moscow is using the turbine issue as a pretext. Matthew Luxmoore, WSJ, 27 July 2022 The White House has warned that China could use Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan as a pretext for provocation, laying out a number of potential responses by Beijing. Erin Cunningham, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 Some Assembly members and other community leaders say the administration is using the fire danger as a pretext for opening Centennial as a stopgap measure in the wake of Sullivan’s closure. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 9 July 2022 See More Word History
Latin praetextus, from praetexere to assign as a pretext, screen, extend in front, from prae- + texere to weave — more at technical
circa 1538, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing pretext
pretext
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- justification
- reason
- guise
- excuse
- pretense
- pretence
- rationalization
- rationale
- case
- explanation
- argument
- alibi
- accounting
- vindication
- defense
- plea
- apology
- apologia
- account
- appeal
Synonym Chooser
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.
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.
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.
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.
The meanings of excuse and pretext largely overlap; however, excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.
The words plea and pretext are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.