PRE-TENSIONS Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

pretensions

noun

plural of pretension

as in rights

an entitlement to something a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in goals

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish has serious pretensions of becoming a writer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pretensions Their trading volume, political influence and public profiles have expanded — as have their pretensions. — W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026 Anyone can join this adventure, this surge of solidarity through collective prayer for our world, to put a stop to all the pretensions of evil. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2026 Martin insisted that it could be done without schmaltz, but the singer was wary of wrecking their reputation with classical pretensions. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 The genre, with its sanitized storylines and Oscar-baiting pretensions, seems fundamentally at odds with the iconoclastic chef and television personality. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 Like Paul Schrader’s 1982 version of the latter, this is an upscale genre piece whose pretensions towards Art are upfront, starting with a quotation from no less than Schopenhauer. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026 At 61, unaligned to any party faction and with no pretensions to the highest office, the Scot would represent little threat to Burnham. — Ian King, CNBC, 15 July 2026 The British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge, who converted to Christianity late in his life, pointed out that Jesus’s entire ministry was directed against the pretensions of earthly power. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 Adley and his team make great tasting plates first and foremost, but some of the items, like the unmissable chicken wings stuffed with boudin blanc and romesco, act as a cheeky affront to haute cuisine’s pretensions and conventions. — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 3 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretensions

Noun

The company is using the market to find partners for investment, co-development and distribution, as well as rights licensing deals.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Joining will be the film’s star Ruth Madeley, who plays real-life American disability rights activist Judith Heumann, and casting directors Bernard Telsey and Adam Caldwell.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of rights

Noun

Mercury in your 10th House quincunxes Saturn in your 3rd, creating friction between your public goals and the details, conversations, or information required to support them.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
Income, bills, savings goals and other expenses change over time.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of goals

Noun

But OpenAI’s reputation, among mathematicians, for bold claims and little transparency is causing considerable skepticism.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Oct. 2026
Some involve the same voting-by-an-alien offense at issue in Cox’s case, while others include separate charges involving voter registration, false claims of citizenship or the naturalization process.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of claims

Noun

No student information is to be disclosed for immigration enforcement purposes without a court order or subpoena, according to state law.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Other independents in the Senate, including Maine's Angus King on the moderate end and Vermont's Bernie Sanders on the left, caucus with Democrats for organizational purposes and committee assignments.

— NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of purposes

Noun

The party also faces divisions over how to balance criticism of the Israeli government with concerns about Israel’s security and Iran’s regional ambitions.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
The sharp pullback comes at a difficult time for the kingdom’s growth ambitions.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of ambitions

Noun

Construction originally began back in 2006 as part of Qatar's ambitious plans to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
That's according to a person familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly and cautioned the plans could shift.

— NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of plans

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pretension

pretensions

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“Pretensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretensions. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pretensions

noun

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