1
as in arrogant
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
that pretentious couple always serves caviar at their parties, even though they themselves dislike it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in superior
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
a pretentious author whose books only appeal to equally pretentious readers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretentious
Kirk Lazarus is a prestigious, pretentious actor who decides to go full method — to put it mildly — in portraying a Black soldier.
—
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
They’re much better made, more literate, more economical, more efficient, more interested in just telling a story and not being pretentious.
—John Bleasdale, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Though Dirty Dom’s in-ring debut began in 2020, the pretentious son of Rey Mysterio Jr. inherited his slick ways from iconic WWE superstar Eddie Guerrero.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025
Democratic strategist James Carville scolded his party for being pretentious and out of touch with large segments of the population, including young men.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
They’re much better made, more literate, more economical, more efficient, more interested in just telling a story and not being pretentious.
—John Bleasdale, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Though Dirty Dom’s in-ring debut began in 2020, the pretentious son of Rey Mysterio Jr. inherited his slick ways from iconic WWE superstar Eddie Guerrero.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025
Democratic strategist James Carville scolded his party for being pretentious and out of touch with large segments of the population, including young men.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentious
Adjective
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Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Guigal’s strategy isn’t built on pompous conservatism, but in long-term thinking.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Louis Partridge will take on the scheming Mr Wickham, with Jamie Demetriou playing the pompous Mr Collins, Daryl McCormack as Jane’s beloved Mr Bingley, Siena Kelly as his sister Caroline and Shaw as the fearsome Lady Catherine de Bourg.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Overblown, ostentatious hybrids of classical and local styles, kitschily ornamented with classical detail, all on a scale meant to be overwhelming rather than inviting—that’s what Big Brother’s city hall always looks like.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
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Now, the Chinese leader is set to exhibit a very different image with an ostentatious show of military might.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This grandiose opera house in Guangzhou—an hour northwest of Hong Kong by train—opened in 2010 using the plans for the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales, which was never built.—
Mae Hamilton,
AFAR Media,
9 Sep. 2025
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The monumental, symmetrical building had a grandiose entrance mimicking the front of the Greek temple, and the glass and iron dome at the structure’s center was erected using the latest construction techniques.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The key question: Is this all high-minded political talk from people who will be gone when Mandarin becomes the lingua franca on the Moon?—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
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That means pausing California’s high-minded independent commission that has, admirably, drawn congressional boundaries in a non-partisan way since 2010.—
Mercury News Editorial,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As Cantillo dissected his outing, Hedges peered over at him, beaming like a proud father.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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But the proud Eugene will not hear of it.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentious. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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