Care had to be exercised in this absurd pretence (7)
I believe the answer is:
charade
'this absurd pretence' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'care had to be exercised' is the wordplay.
'to be exercised' indicates an anagram.
'care'+'had'='carehad'
'carehad' with letters rearranged gives 'CHARADE'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for charade that I've seen before include "Ludicrous pretence" , "An absurd pretence, could be a game" , "absurd behaviour" , "Had care in the acted riddle" , "absurd act" .)