Vocabulary
Pretext
English and Urdu gloss, synonyms and antonyms, and example usage from our editorial sentence cache where available.
English meaning
A reason that you give to hide your real reason for doing something
Urdu meaning
بہانہ یا عذر
Example sentences (from Dawn)
Sentences are selected from stored editorial text where your search word appears. If none appear yet, run the admin sentence generator for fuller coverage.
- Some weeks ago, an Islamabad judge ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels under Peca on the vague pretext that they were involved in `fake, misleading and defamatory` content.
- Having refused to play a group game during the tournament for retired players, India also declined to take the pitch for the semi-final against Pakistan on the pretext of strained ties.
- However, the government also needs to provide concrete reassurances to stakeholders that it does not mean to use counterterrorism as a pretext for curbing dissent or targeting critics.
- Instead, the latter`s democratic voice and peaceful protests are met with force on the pretext of `national security` and the maintenance of order.
- Fears abound that the ramshackle state of historic edifices can serve as the perfect pretext for authorities to accommodate the powerful builder mafia.
Synonyms
excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason
Antonyms
reality, back, truth, rear
More vocabulary to explore
About this vocabulary section.
These entries support close reading of Dawn editorials and opinion pieces: short definitions,
Urdu equivalents where we have them, word relations, and—when generated—real lines from the editorial archive
so you can see tone and usage.
Common questions
- Do I need to sign up to use this vocabulary page?
- No. Word pages are open to everyone. You can read meanings in English and Urdu, synonyms and antonyms, and example sentences without creating an account.
- Where do the example sentences come from?
- When available, example sentences are drawn from cached matches in our Dawn editorial corpus so you can see how a word is used in real newsroom-style prose.
- How is this different from a dictionary?
- This section is curated for students preparing for competitive exams and editorial reading. Entries are compact, often include Urdu glosses, and are paired with in-context lines from editorials when we have them.
