What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretended
Example
She pretended to be interested in his story. [pretended: verb]
Example
His pretended enthusiasm for the project was obvious. [pretended: adjective]
fake
Example
The painting turned out to be a fake. [fake: noun]
Example
He tried to pass off the fake watch as a real one. [fake: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fake is more commonly used than pretended in everyday language. Fake is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pretended is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretended and fake?
Pretended is more formal and less commonly used than fake. While fake can be used in both formal and informal contexts, pretended is typically used in more formal settings.
