pretext vs pretense

pretext and pretense both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
pretext	Yes	No	No	No
pretense	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, pretext and pretense are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of pretext include guise, pretence.

As nouns, pretense is a hypernym of pretext; that is, pretense is a word with a broader meaning than pretext:

pretext: something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
pretense: pretending with intention to deceive

Other hypernyms of pretext include dissembling, feigning, pretence.

pretext (noun)	pretense (noun)
an artful or simulated semblance	the act of giving a false appearance
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason	a false or unsupportable quality
	an artful or simulated semblance
	imaginative intellectual play
	pretending with intention to deceive