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
-
The Honda moves forward, turning to the right.—
Devon Lum,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Costco would add one right-in/right-out turn on Idaho 55, another on Hill Road, and a new roundabout on Hill Road, the traffic analysis said.—
Rose Evans
January 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In a post dripping with arrogance, Lynch dished out demeaning nicknames for her recent opponents.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
Now, though levees may not exactly be back, royal affectations and the disputes that go with them are.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That’s probably an affectation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The core purpose of Taste Addison – promoting Addison's 200+ restaurants – will be reenvisioned to include new, year-round options to support and elevate North Texas' most vibrant dining hub.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Conversely, Taiwan’s adoption of drone technologies and counter-measures reflects a broader global trend in modern warfare where autonomy, numbers, and networked systems can offset traditional military superiority.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Despite Barca’s recent dominance and established superiority in terms of history, fanbase and budget, the rivalry between the clubs is fierce.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This week’s truncating of the schedule removed whatever pretense remained that Kennedy’s HHS would respect the scientific process for making decisions about vaccines even when that process was dominated by allies who had already taken action to roll back recommendations.—
Grayson Logue,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
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But gone are the days when those books were displayed to show off the intellect and interests of their owners — and with it, the pretense, at least, that their owners had read them.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Join Palmer in crushing New Year’s fitness goals with this nifty Pilates set that comes with a ring, mini ball, and four resistance bands.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Giving love to local venues For McLaughlin and Arthurs, the goal was always to bring the film to venues around the Carolinas as a way to promote those spaces, like The Milestone, that were filled with local music history.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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