pretended influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretended influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is feigning or simulating power or control over a person or situation. Example: "Despite his pretended influence over the committee, the members were not swayed by his arguments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In a statement read by the South African sports minister, Ngconde Balfour, Cronje said he had pretended to influence matches with alleged bookies who contacted him but had no intention of doing so.

The New York Times - Sports

Responding to the Bannon bombshell on Wednesday, Trump accused him of only pretending to have influence in the White House.

Huffington Post

According to Mumford real influence - not pretended or symbolic - in HIT-development is best achieved by using the consensus type of participation, where the users are involved throughout the technological development process [ 28, 29].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Asked whether she has given Linda any advice, Loretta said, "Plenty". "Does she take it?" Loretta added, "Nooooo". Said Linda: "I don't pretend that I can influence her vote, and I don't expect her to try and influence mine". Loretta said she has advised her sister to try to find ways to work with Republicans, who control the House and Senate.

Los Angeles Times

"I don't want to pretend we're without influence," said a senior administration official.

The New York Times

Love isn't about money, influence, or pretending to walk in slow motion together across the White House lawn.

The New Yorker

Shouts & Murmurs: Love isn't about money, influence, or pretending to walk in slow motion together across the White House lawn.

The New Yorker

These days we understand that the most powerful influences aren't the distant ones but the most immediate and social — so the powerful tend to exert their influence by pretending to be ordinary people.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's a speech that acknowledges the mysterious tug of influence without pretending to know exactly why one person ends up with "Blue Moon" and another with "Tangled Up in Blue".

The New Yorker

The statement goes on,"Steve was rarely in a one-on-one meeting with me and only pretends to have had influence to fool a few people with no access and no clue, whom he helped write phony books".

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, on the part of the planet where you can't even pretend to have any influence, the Chinese navy won a game of WW3 chicken in the Pacific.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pretended influence", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the influence is not genuine, but rather feigned or simulated. Use it to highlight deception or a lack of real power.

Common error

Avoid using "pretended influence" when you mean to convey actual, though perhaps subtle or indirect, influence. The phrase specifically denotes a lack of genuine impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretended influence" functions as a noun phrase where "pretended" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "influence". Ludwig AI confirms that it is usable and correct. This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is feigning or simulating power.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pretended influence" is a valid and understandable way to describe a situation where someone falsely claims to have power or control. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usability, and while examples are somewhat limited, the phrase appears in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. It's important to use this phrase deliberately, ensuring the context makes it clear that the influence is not genuine. Related phrases like "feigned power" or "simulated control" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feigned power

This alternative replaces "influence" with "power" and "pretended" with "feigned", suggesting a false appearance of authority.

simulated control

This alternative uses "simulated" instead of "pretended" and "control" instead of "influence", implying an artificial or imitated form of control.

false authority

This alternative replaces "pretended" with "false" and "influence" with "authority", highlighting the illegitimacy of the power.

sham influence

This alternative uses "sham" to describe the "influence", indicating that it's a deception or a fake.

illusory power

This alternative replaces "pretended" with "illusory", suggesting that the power is not real but an illusion.

ostensible influence

Using "ostensible" emphasizes that the influence is only apparent or stated, but not necessarily real.

purported control

This alternative replaces "pretended" with "purported", indicating that the control is alleged but not proven.

make-believe power

Using "make-believe" conveys the idea that the power is imaginary or based on fantasy.

contrived influence

Replacing "pretended" with "contrived" suggests that the influence is artificially created or manipulated.

artificial authority

This alternative emphasizes the non-genuine nature of the authority, indicating it is man-made or imitated.

FAQs

How can I use "pretended influence" in a sentence?

You can use "pretended influence" to describe someone who is feigning power or control, for example: "Despite his pretended influence over the committee, the members were not swayed by his arguments."

What are some alternatives to "pretended influence"?

Alternatives include "feigned power", "simulated control", or "false authority", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "pretended influence" the same as "real influence"?

No, "pretended influence" implies that the influence is not real, but rather a deception or illusion. "Real influence" indicates genuine power to affect a situation or person.

What is the connotation of using the term "pretended influence"?

Using "pretended influence" often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that someone is being disingenuous or attempting to deceive others about their level of control.