1
as in right
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 arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
a woman full of pretension and pompousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in affectation
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case
the pretension of that French restaurant is more than I can bear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
has serious pretensions of becoming a writer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretension
There's no pretension here: San Pancho's beach is dotted with boutique hotels and homes for rent and an array of restaurants, mostly of the no-frills and unassuming variety.
—
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
The Chicago Athletic Association offers an elevated members club experience without the steely pretension.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Sep. 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
Each space differs, but the owners and creators prioritize community and inclusivity over exclusivity and pretension.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
The Chicago Athletic Association offers an elevated members club experience without the steely pretension.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Sep. 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
Each space differs, but the owners and creators prioritize community and inclusivity over exclusivity and pretension.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension
Noun
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The men also spoke about going on strike to demand basic rights, including communication with the outside world.—
Rocio Muñoz-Ledo,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
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Inside the store, shelves to the right of the entrance are stacked with nonperishable foods, hygiene products, pet food and donated blankets and sweaters, Smith said.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In a post dripping with arrogance, Lynch dished out demeaning nicknames for her recent opponents.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The way Koko is received for her affectation is part of what’s frustrating to watch, too.—
Jihan Forbes,
Allure,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In retrospect, Kinetta feels like a dry run for Lanthimos, with all the droll affectation of his later provocations but little of the allegorical power or lunatic comedy that would distinguish them.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, this approach defeats the primary purpose of insurance, which is to protect against catastrophic costs in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Grief pressed in, but so did purpose.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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While Kyiv denied Russian claims that Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk have already been surrounded, saying on Wednesday that active operations stopping the Russian advance were still ongoing, Ukrainian soldiers on the ground have described an increasingly grim reality.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The hearing also included two members of Miller's own family — her daughter and her father — who offered a counterpart to claims that Miller was an unworthy and hostile caregiver.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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These are the questions that have plagued the American public since the Euphoria and Anyone But You actor dared to gesture toward a blatant superiority as one of the most notable hot people right now.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
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The pact is aimed at securing an edge over China in the race for tech superiority, Bloomberg noted.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His memoir told of workhouse guards beating prisoners on the least pretense, and of one guard who regularly shoved prisoners down flights of stairs.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said in a May report that women from more than 20 African countries had been recruited under false pretences to make drones for Russia’s war.—
Reuters 16 hr ago,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s goal could be to rally a majority of the world’s countries to call for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire, with details on implementation to be worked out by the parties.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
11 Nov. 2025
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Some of the choices at the deli counter are better for certain health needs and goals than others.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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