pretextnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈpriː.tekst/us/ˈpriː.tekst/a pretended reason for doing something that is used to hide the real reason:
The border dispute was used as a pretext for military intervention.
I called her on the pretext of needing more information.
He came round to see her on some flimsy (= obviously false) pretext.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Plotting & trapping
- be in league with sb idiom
- cahoots
- catch sb out
- chicanery
- cloak-and-dagger
- conspiratorial
- conspire
- entrap
- entrapment
- hatch
- have a card up your sleeve idiom
- plot
- plotter
- put-up job
- scheme
- set-up
- snare
- sting
- stratagem
- trap
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Cheating & tricking