under false pretenses
idiom
: by saying something that is not true, by pretending something, etc.
A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses.
Examples of under false pretenses in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Malware often asks for control over functions like being set as the default dialer or access to accessibility services under false pretenses.
—
Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Bates stars in the reboot as septuagenarian Madeline Kingston, who gets a job at the law firm Jacobson & Moore under false pretenses and the false identity Madeline Matlock.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2024
After falling in love and lust under false pretenses, the duo has finally managed to put the past behind them and reinvent themselves as a happy all-American family, complete with a couple dogs, a couple kids, and an apple pie on the dinner table.
—Chris Stanton, Vulture, 14 June 2024
The investigation, led by the Chandler Police Department, revealed that McLaughlin allegedly used her nonprofit, an organization for special needs dogs, to solicit over $47,000 in cash and supplies under false pretenses.
—Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for under false pretenses 
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.
Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Bates stars in the reboot as septuagenarian Madeline Kingston, who gets a job at the law firm Jacobson & Moore under false pretenses and the false identity Madeline Matlock.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2024
After falling in love and lust under false pretenses, the duo has finally managed to put the past behind them and reinvent themselves as a happy all-American family, complete with a couple dogs, a couple kids, and an apple pie on the dinner table.
—Chris Stanton, Vulture, 14 June 2024
The investigation, led by the Chandler Police Department, revealed that McLaughlin allegedly used her nonprofit, an organization for special needs dogs, to solicit over $47,000 in cash and supplies under false pretenses.
—Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for under false pretenses
Dictionary Entries Near under false pretenses
Cite this Entry
“Under false pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20false%20pretenses. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share