pretensions

noun

plural of pretension
1
as in rights
an entitlement to something a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 The author behind the singular Elizabeth Zott returns with ‘Peck & Peck,’ a sharp, charming satire on the pretensions and perils of literary gatekeepers. — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretensions
  1. rights
  2. goals
  3. claims
  4. purposes
  5. pretenses
  6. ambitions
  7. plans
  8. aims
Noun
  • Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The five-year agreement includes field naming rights with on-field branding at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
    — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of rights
Noun
  • The association reiterated its support for SB 707’s textile circularity goals while challenging CalRecycle’s choice of the organization tasked with implementing them.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That took Chelsea to six goals inside the first seven minutes of games this season, something no Premier League side has previously managed across any six-game spell.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of goals
Noun
  • Gilbert shared a post to his Instagram story responding to the outcry from fans of the actor over the weekend, addressing claims that Danny is pro-ICE or supports Shapiro’s politics.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The probe found no criminal wrongdoing, at which point Spitzer shifted to negotiating towards a civil disposition with GKN and announced the claims program.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of claims
Noun
  • On a blistering surprise EP, Deafheaven find the vicious attack and grandiose drama of symphonic black metal perfectly suited to their purposes.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The area, for all intents and purposes, has always functioned as the back of the museum.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • Conference expansion has shattered pretenses to regional coherence.
    — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The strategic mistake of invading Iraq on false pretenses was then compounded by tactical errors.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretenses
Noun
  • Her ambitions also extend to Fendi Casa, where the designer is researching furniture, textiles, colors and materials to establish a more recognizable language for the home.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Longer-term ambitions include bringing build times down to minutes.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ambitions
Noun
  • The new plans bring the group’s total billboards across those three states to more than 350.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Several lawmakers, including Republicans, have spoken out against plans to broadcast the execution.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of plans
Noun
  • Compass is preparing to complete a rolling FDA submission this quarter for COMP360, its synthetic psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression, with aims to launch early next year.
    — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Putin is committed to his overall war aims, and no amount of external pressure is likely to force him to abandon those.
    — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of aims

Browse Nearby Words

pretension
pretensions
pretentious
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Cite this Entry

“Pretensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretensions. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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