pretend vs simulate

pretend

verb
  • To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.). 

  • To claim, to allege, especially when falsely or as a form of deliberate deception. 

  • To lay claim to (an ability, status, advantage, etc.). (originally used without to) 

  • To make oneself appear to do or be doing something; to engage in make-believe. 

noun
  • the act of engaging in pretend play. 

adj
  • Not really what it is represented as being; imaginary, feigned. 

simulate

verb
  • To model, replicate, duplicate the behavior, appearance or properties of. 

How often have the words pretend and simulate occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )