1
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quiet
not excessively showy
lives in a rather unpretentious house for someone so wealthy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
the unpretentious disposition of an award-winning scientist who has nothing to prove to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unpretentious
Come for the seafood and stay for the weekend live music and waterfront views that draw a loyal, unpretentious crowd.
—
Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
Until now, the global art scene hadn’t quite made its way to the unpretentious seaside town, but Biarritz is conveniently flanked by major art hubs with Paris, Madrid, and Bilbao all within a short driving distance.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2026
The atmosphere is regal and luxurious, yet settling and unpretentious.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
And the restaurant’s unpretentious approach to French food is very much in line with Wise’s personality.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
Until now, the global art scene hadn’t quite made its way to the unpretentious seaside town, but Biarritz is conveniently flanked by major art hubs with Paris, Madrid, and Bilbao all within a short driving distance.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2026
The atmosphere is regal and luxurious, yet settling and unpretentious.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
And the restaurant’s unpretentious approach to French food is very much in line with Wise’s personality.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
-
Where Soap was straightforwardly in the realm of sitcom—leaning toward broad humor, underlined stylistically by the presence of a laugh track—Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman knew just how to strike that sweet spot between screw-loose absurdity and genuine pathos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The service Service is unfailingly warm, genuine, and solicitous—if occasionally slow.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Biltmore is polished, quiet, and—despite its size—manages not to feel at all intimidating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Gregory Lorenzi has spent the past 10 years at Brest, where his eye for a bargain helped to catapult the humble Breton club from mid-table mediocrity in Ligue 2 to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 and a fairytale Champions League campaign.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Léa Seydoux gives a very committed, unaffected performance as Lucy, an experimental pianist who must deal with the dawning knowledge that her beloved husband Philip (Laurence Rupp) has a second life online as a pedophile pornographer.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
French authorities had initially ordered over 1,700 passengers and crew on The Ambition cruise ship to remain on board, but then decided late Wednesday to let those unaffected disembark.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
That goes for much here, from the light that scurries away from Benjamín Echazarreta’s muted camera, to the moments of sweetness that punctuate Mariá Portugal’s largely ominous score.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
Moreover, the brand’s growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa was impacted by muted consumer sentiment in Europe due to both higher energy costs and inflation and because the conflict impacted the brand’s ability to ship into the Middle East.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
This anger crackles around him like a smoldering fire, igniting and engulfing everyone from the workers on his farm, his meek sister Férula (Fernanda Castillo), to Clara and, eventually, to their daughter, Blanca (Sara Becker and later Fernanda Urrejola), Alba’s idealistic mother.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That included a meek loss in Toronto, with Murray not participating on the second night of a back-to-back following a blowout loss at Detroit.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Colicchio is honest enough to walk up to that line and examine it.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The response was more subdued when, in the fourth round, the San Francisco 49ers selected Prysock.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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