1
as in rights
an entitlement to something
a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in goals
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
has serious pretensions of becoming a writer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretensions
The nation was to be purged of continual sin not indeed all of its own doing—due partly to its inheritance; and yet a sin, a negation that gave the world the right to sneer at the pretensions of this republic.
—
James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
This action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
The pilot isn’t quite sure what makes Arthur funny, alternating between jokes about his artistic pretensions and his extreme whiteness.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026
His pretensions—riding around in a grand coach and continuing the weekly levees—as well as his administration’s notorious effort to enforce deference in the 1798 Sedition Act, fell flat.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Few things jar the delicate pretensions of the cocktail sophisticate so much as a drink with a chicken on top.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
But she is best remembered for Keeping Up Appearances and her role as Hyacinth Bucket, a working-class woman with pretensions of social superiority.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 3 Oct. 2025
Such pretensions on the part of the mega-rich aren’t new; Lowell reminds us of that.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
This action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
The pilot isn’t quite sure what makes Arthur funny, alternating between jokes about his artistic pretensions and his extreme whiteness.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026
His pretensions—riding around in a grand coach and continuing the weekly levees—as well as his administration’s notorious effort to enforce deference in the 1798 Sedition Act, fell flat.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Few things jar the delicate pretensions of the cocktail sophisticate so much as a drink with a chicken on top.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
But she is best remembered for Keeping Up Appearances and her role as Hyacinth Bucket, a working-class woman with pretensions of social superiority.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 3 Oct. 2025
Such pretensions on the part of the mega-rich aren’t new; Lowell reminds us of that.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretensions
Noun
-
Now, even pop culture buzz doesn’t translate to syndication and international licensing revenue because those rights are frequently bought out upfront by the streaming platform.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
-
But Sheldon Taubman, a longtime disability rights attorney, said the plan would impact about 7,250 severely disabled people.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over time the address has become a vehicle for presidents to address the nation’s residents, claim legislative victories and foreshadow upcoming policy goals.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
After thrashing Real España by five goals on the Honduran club’s home field last week, the Los Angeles Football Club was nearly guaranteed to advance to the next stage of the continental tournament.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With an independent test data set for release, the coming weeks may determine whether Donut Lab’s claims mark a genuine breakthrough or another chapter in the long and difficult quest to commercialize solid-state batteries.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Yet the requirement to have identification to get a shoveling job would appear to contradict such claims and concerns.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The thing to remember is these administrative arrest warrants have been deemed justified by courts in immigration purposes.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This material is for illustration and discussion purposes and not intended to be, nor construed as, financial, legal, tax or investment advice.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Johnson eventually pleaded no contest to three counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
She is also charged with one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of between $1,000 and $20,000 and one count of false pretenses of between $1,000 and $20,000.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The abrupt shift away from Blue Jay and the LVM system are unlikely to hamper Amazon’s wider robotics and automation ambitions, especially given the technology’s ability to cut down supply chain costs.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Runway ambitions are similarly measured.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Alongside the promise for more nuclear weapons, Kim also reiterated plans for stronger ICBMs, submarine-launch capabilities, and developments involving drones and artificial intelligence.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The president announced plans to offer those who do not have a retirement savings plan through their employer, such as a 401(k), access to the same plan offered to federal workers.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The entire point of routine is that its divisions are small and its aims achievable, defined to be so by the one who sets them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Protect your energy so your aims stay clear.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretensions. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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