pretend

Given that, Miliband said, "we thought it was right to confront this issue and not to just try and sort of pretend that it didn't exist".

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

The alleged violations of the convention "are a stain on our collective conscience and it would be irresponsible to pretend that it is not our business," Jallow said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

The double standard has always been there, but now it’s too obvious to pretend away or disguise.

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2026

That moment is exactly why rights holders have a duty to push back against any attempts for AI companies to pretend their chatbots are included in the old chestnut that “great artists steal.”

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

“Sometimes, Mom, even I’m not a good enough actress to pretend not to notice when Bat is being weird.”

From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold

Instead, it muddies the waters and pretends to be deep.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Fearing that the surprise visitor might be a “dangle”—someone who pretends to switch sides to gain a foothold in the enemy camp—his hosts were wary at first.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

"He is not happy, he pretends he is happy," said Tamim.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

Following Mozart’s successful debut at court, Salieri cozies up to him and pretends to aid his cause.

From Salon ● May 16, 2026

He pretends to take a bite out of it.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

He slipped on the back steps last winter, and we both pretended it didn’t scare us, but he could have just as easily slipped on another stairwell.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026

Pressed — surely she’s pretended to be sick to get out of a party? — she concedes she has, explaining that she thought he meant the criminal case against her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

She pretended to be a distressed mother and argued hysterically that it was their job to find him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

He then pretended to board the old Air Force One, only to secretly switch planes by hiding in a refueling truck, due to security threats.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

He pretended he was an enthusiastic militant Confederate eager to continue to fight the war, wherever it was.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Maya described her as a "ball of fun", while Kenny put on his best acting skills in the aftermath by pretending to be struggling with having the deciding vote, even comforting poor Sharon.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Fielder is left wondering whether she’s genuinely unaware of the deal Evans negotiated or merely pretending not to know.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

The phone call had come from Amacher—the man now complaining the situation has been blown out of proportion—who said he had called the center, pretending to be a member of Talarico’s family.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

In one, she holds up a finger covered in red marker to look like blood, pretending to be a patient who asks how much stitches will cost, and is later shocked by the bill.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

I know he knows Tūtū is there, but he’s pretending he doesn’t.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila