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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretension
Such pretensions on the part of the mega-rich aren’t new; Lowell reminds us of that.
—
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
New Yorkers particularly resent Washington’s pretensions.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 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
Pasta lovers, diners craving a lack of pretension in Wynwood
What to order: Like its straightforward name suggests, the star here is homemade pasta in various simple but delectable forms.
—Constance Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
New Yorkers particularly resent Washington’s pretensions.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 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
Pasta lovers, diners craving a lack of pretension in Wynwood
What to order: Like its straightforward name suggests, the star here is homemade pasta in various simple but delectable forms.
—Constance Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension
Noun
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Human rights organizations have renewed their criticism, airing concerns about the persecution of dissent in a country where more than 800 people are behind bars for political reasons, according to the legal rights organization Foro Penal.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu also won a Gold Glove -- for the second straight year -- leaving Duran as the odd man out defensively.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
-
Using him comes across as arrogance.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 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
-
However, an insider has made a bold claim about their chances.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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To stake his claim to be considered for a F1 seat at any team, the 20-year-old would increase his odds by bagging the F2 title.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The pact is aimed at securing an edge over China in the race for tech superiority, Bloomberg noted.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Militaries from the United States to China and Israel are embedding AI across operations, signaling that technological superiority will define next-generation warfare.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Under the pretense of going to the bathroom, Dunne escaped out the window and took off in her car, which Sweeney jumped the hood of.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Dwarfing its predecessor and three inches taller, the Ford GT made no pretense of being a racing machine like the car that inspired it.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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With their passage, Mamdani as mayor gets a boost towards his goal of building 200,000 more units of permanently affordable housing over the next 10 years.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
5 Nov. 2025
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His goal over the next year is to replace 100% of the city’s buses with low-emission and zero-emission vehicles.—
Erin McMullen,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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