Pretender
False heir apparent
A pretender claims something that may not be true—especially a right or title.
Historically, pretenders claimed thrones: the Old Pretender, the Young Pretender sought the British crown.
More broadly, a pretender is anyone who feigns qualities they lack: He's a pretender to expertise he doesn't have.
The word implies the claim is dubious or the person is faking.
One feigning another's identity
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- fakerOne who pretends
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- deceiverOne who tricks others
phony · sham · masquerader · con artist · bluffer · hoaxer · dissembler · hypocrite
One asserting entitlement
- usurperIllegal power seizer
- heirOne who receives legacy
- successionFollowing in order
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
rival · legitimacy · crown · disputed · rightful · Stuart · Jacobite · Bonnie Prince Charlie
Imaginative play or fantasy
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- play-actingInsincere dramatic behavior
- dress-upPlay involving costumes
- role-playAssume a character temporarily
fantasy · pirate · superhero · princess · cowboys · tea party · invisible friend · costume
Feigning belief or feeling
- playerGame participant
- heartbreakerOne who causes romantic anguish
- commitment-phobicAfraid of lasting obligations
- stringing alongProlonged romantic deception
false promises · gold digger · ulterior motives · unfaithful · love bombing · manipulation · opportunist · inauthentic
Grohl-led rock band
- coverProtect by overlaying
- performanceCarrying out a task
- singingVocal music-making
- balladNarrative poem or song
Freddie Mercury · karaoke · classic · doo-wop · torch song · heartbreak · crooning · oldies
impostor
One feigning another's identity
deceiver · phony · sham · masquerader · con artist · bluffer · hoaxer · dissembler · hypocrite · counterfeit
claimant
One asserting entitlement
- usurperIllegal power seizer
- heirOne who receives legacy
- successionFollowing in order
dynasty · rival · legitimacy · crown · disputed · rightful · Stuart · Jacobite · Bonnie Prince Charlie · restoration
make-believe
Imaginative play or fantasy
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- play-actingInsincere dramatic behavior
- dress-upPlay involving costumes
role-play · fantasy · pirate · superhero · princess · cowboys · tea party · invisible friend · costume · storytelling
insincere
Feigning belief or feeling
- playerGame participant
- heartbreakerOne who causes romantic anguish
- commitment-phobicAfraid of lasting obligations
false promises · stringing along · gold digger · ulterior motives · unfaithful · love bombing · manipulation · opportunist · inauthentic · disingenuous
Foo Fighters
Grohl-led rock band
- coverProtect by overlaying
- performanceCarrying out a task
- singingVocal music-making
Freddie Mercury · ballad · karaoke · classic · doo-wop · torch song · heartbreak · crooning · oldies · tribute
- transformerstransformer, Optimus Prime, Megatron, power transformer, Starscream
- Jacobite Risinguprising, Preston, clans, Scottish Highlands
Pretenderrightful heir
Person legally due inheritance
legitimate heir · anointed king · incumbent · titleholder · rightful owner
Pretendergenuine article
Authentic original item
real thing · authentic · true believer · bona fide · original
- let's pretend
- pretend not to see
- pretend playImaginative childhood roleplay
- The PretenderFalse claimant to throne