unpretentious

adjective

un·​pre·​ten·​tious ˌən-pri-ˈten(t)-shəs 

: free from ostentation, elegance, or affectation : modest

unpretentious homes

an unpretentious celebrity

unpretentiously adverb

unpretentiousness noun

Synonyms of unpretentious

• genuine
• unaffected
• honest
• simple
• true
• innocent

Examples of unpretentious in a Sentence

a casual and unpretentious restaurant

a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South

Recent Examples on the Web

That raw, unpretentious approach to words was my baseline. —Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

The hotel’s slim set of measured, crisp rooms draws a low-key crowd, ranging from honeymooners to city weekenders from Kuala Lumpur, all lounging with the same welcome, unpretentious ease of the hotel itself. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026

Nestled among apartments, laundromats, and liquor stores, this unpretentious taqueria with its signature Mexican pink walls is a staple of Dallas taco culture. —Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026

Shorthand for authentic and unpretentious. —Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unpretentious

• conscientious
• contentious
• pretentious
• sententious
• tendentious

Kids Definition

unpretentious

adjective

un·​pre·​ten·​tious ˌən-pri-ˈten-chəs 

: not pretentious : not showy : simple, modest

pleasant but unpretentious homes

unpretentiously adverb