Imaginary
Imaginary adjective - Not real and existing only in the imagination.
Usage example: told by the psychologist that it was perfectly normal for their child to have an imaginary friend
Pretend is a synonym for imaginary in unreal topic. In some cases you can use "Pretend" instead an adjective "Imaginary".
Nearby Words: imagination, imaginative
Pretend
Pretend adjective - Not real and existing only in the imagination.
Usage example: it's just a pretend gun, so please pretend that I got you and play dead
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both words in one sentence
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Line-of-Sight Name: Alex ends up having to pretend to be named "Bill Board" when Elaine desperately makes up a name for an imaginary boyfriend.
Source: Series / Taxi -
In the first chapter of the Flash game MARDEK, the main characters pretend that they are legendary heroes, and the tutorial is played through using their extremely powerful imaginary personas.
Source: A Taste of Power -
Also one particularly bizarre episode, dealt with Troy going to lunch in a restaurant with Britta instead of hanging out with Abed in his Dreamatorium (their pretend holodeck for imaginary fun) who in turn was obviously upset.
Source: Stoic Woobie
Cite this Source
Pretend and Imaginary. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/imaginary/pretend
Imaginary & Pretend. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/imaginary/pretend>.
Pretend or Imaginary. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/imaginary/pretend.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "imaginary" and "pretend" have occurred on timeline