to purport

Examples

• All

• She purports to be an expert on the subject, yet her arguments lack substantial evidence.

• Recent efforts by the Clinton administration purport to demonstrate a more cogent policy of "engagement" toward China.

  Academic text (1999)

• There are two stories that purport to explain the event.

  YaleCourses

• You purport to know a good deal about my son.

  Air (2023)

• But we, not some God, purport to be the designers.

• So yeah, we're, we're not the angels that we purport we are to be.

  Chris Williamson

• You know, there is another book that purports to do just that.

  The Professor and the Madman (2019)

• It's meant to, it purports to represent the world as it is.

  Big Think

• Has this House gone once to the people it purports to represent?

  Cromwell (1970)

• As technology advances, the number of investigative technologies that purport to detect only contraband will increase further.

  Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

C

to claim

vsto purport

∞ 2.3

To say something is true, often without proof

focuses specifically on presenting personal status or actions rather than general facts

A

to allege

vsto purport

• Literature

218 5.3

To say that something is true without giving proof

emphasizes presenting personal role or action rather than general accusation

M

to make out

vsto purport

• Informal

72 6.0

To pretend or claim something is true when it is not

focuses on presenting oneself as being or doing something without proof

M

to misrepresent

vsto purport

63 6.9

Give a false story about someone or something to trick people

focuses more narrowly on presenting oneself as something without proof

I

to impersonate

vsto purport

62 7.2

Pretend to be another person by copying their looks, voice or actions

focuses on stating or presenting a personal role or action without proof

P

to profess

vsto purport

57 5.9

To say you believe or support something, often without meaning it

is more about showing oneself as having a role or action

P

to pass off

vsto purport

37 6.9

To make something or someone look real when they are not

is about claiming personal status or action rather than selling an object

M

to masquerade

vsto purport

32 6.9

To pretend to be someone else to hide the truth

is about verbal or stated presentation of oneself rather than full disguise

F

to feign

vsto purport

32 7.2

Pretend to feel something, like surprise or interest, to trick other people

is broader, covering claims about roles or actions not only feelings

A

to assume

vsto purport

8 5.0

Pretend to have a quality or feeling

specifically involves claiming to be or do something often without proof

P

to pretend

vsto purport

5 3.9

To say you know or can do something when you do not

adds the idea of presenting personal status or action as factual

S

to sham

vsto purport

1 6.4

To pretend to be or feel something to trick people

is narrower, mainly about claiming personal status or actions without proof

P

to personate

vsto purport

1 9.9

Pretend to be another person to trick people or act in a role

is about claiming status or action through words rather than identity change

P

to portray oneself as

vsto purport

1 5.3

To show yourself as a certain kind of person to make others think that way

is about claiming identity or action often without evidence

Antonyms

D

to disclaim

• Formal

6 7.3

Say officially that you do not have a right, responsibility or part in something

How Assertive

to declare

• Formal

937 3.7

to assert

217 3.9

to purport

• Formal

61 8.0

to suggest

∞ 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology