| Solution | Length | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 letters | ||
| why | 3 | |
| 4 letters | ||
| plea | 4 | |
| ruse | 4 | |
| show | 4 | |
| veil | 4 | |
| ploy | 4 | |
| 5 letters | ||
| guise | 5 | |
| alibi | 5 | |
| ruses | 5 | |
| trick | 5 | |
| blind | 5 | |
| cover | 5 | |
| shift | 5 | |
| stall | 5 | |
| right | 5 | |
| 6 letters | ||
| reason | 6 | |
| excuse | 6 | |
| screen | 6 | |
| refuge | 6 | |
| guises | 6 | |
| 7 letters | ||
| purport | 7 | |
| pretend | 7 | |
| seeming | 7 | |
| varnish | 7 | |
| profess | 7 | |
| 8 letters | ||
| pretense | 8 | |
| pretence | 8 | |
| what for | 8 | |
| way out | 8 | |
| 9 letters | ||
| SEMBLANCE | 9 | |
| hypocrisy | 9 | |
| wherefore | 9 | |
| stratagem | 9 | |
| rationale | 9 | |
| 10 letters | ||
| SIMULACRUM | 10 | |
| pretension | 10 | |
| appearance | 10 | |
| subterfuge | 10 | |
| simulation | 10 | |
| 11 letters | ||
| CONTRIVANCE | 11 | |
| 12 letters | ||
| SMOKE SCREEN | 12 | |
| speciousness | 12 | |
| protestation | 12 | |
| 13 letters | ||
| saving-clause | 13 | |
| extreme sport | 13 | |
| 14 letters | ||
| representation | 14 | |
| stalking-horse | 14 | |
| 15 letters | ||
| Window-dressing | 15 | |
| 20 letters | ||
| AT THE DROP OF A HAT | 20 | |