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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pretentious different from other adjectives like it?

The words ostentatious and showy are common synonyms of pretentious. While all three words mean "given to excessive outward display," pretentious implies an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing.

a pretentious parade of hard words

When might ostentatious be a better fit than pretentious?

In some situations, the words ostentatious and pretentious are roughly equivalent. However, ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade.

the ostentatious summer homes of the rich

When is it sensible to use showy instead of pretentious?

The words showy and pretentious can be used in similar contexts, but showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste.

the performers' showy costumes

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 pretentious Daniel Brühl co-starred as pretentious director Eric Bouchard, with Aya Cash as producer Anita and Billy Magnussen and Richard E. Grant as actors Adam Randolph and Peter Fairchild. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 3 Jan. 2025 The way every Chinese phone has a watermark feature that adds a white border to photos snapped, with some slightly pretentious image data information listed? Ben Sin, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024 Some implied Hill was pretentious for citing Sam Peckinpah, Martin Scorsese, and Taxi Driver as the film’s influences. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024 Like David, Danson appeared as a pretentious and smug version of himself on the beloved series. Esther Kang, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pretentious 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentious
Adjective
  • The Inside Llewyn Davis star plays Victor Frankenstein, the arrogant scientist who successfully creates life out of an assemblage of deceased body parts.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 30 Jan. 2025
  • An arrogant advertiser at the peak of success is forced to promote a tycoon as a presidential candidate, while a mysterious stalker threatens to destroy his agency and his reputation.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Against the devoted coalition of evangelical Christians, neocons, pompous billionaires and MAGA Republicans who now dominate the other side of the aisle, this prevaricating has failed to muster enthusiasm for the Democratic Party or much of the industry’s own product.
    Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Do Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones play real people in 'The Brutalist?’ The film kicks into high gear with the introduction of Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), a pompous patriarch and industrialist who commissions Tóth to design an elaborate community center.
    Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, Besson turned to a young Tucker, who was understandably nervous to take on such an ostentatious character.
    Danny Horn, EW.com, 27 Jan. 2025
  • And yet the ostentatious Lynchness of it all is counterbalanced by a sense of inner conviction—of serious, spiritual purpose.
    Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • At the event in Halle, Musk also spoke to a feverish crowd in grandiose terms about immigration, pride at being German and the upcoming election.
    Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Moretti’s unlikely foil comes in the form of Ariel, who, compared to the grandiose pop singer, is quiet and attentive, always studying the room.
    William Earl, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But those awards joined wins for shows and performers who never had a shot with the more high-minded Emmys.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Nehru’s patriotism was the high-minded vision of a Cambridge graduate who hoped to set India on a unique path—benignly secular and socialist, proudly nonaligned in the binary world of the Cold War.
    Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Er, well, for the dozens of proud Vision Pro owners.
    Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2025
  • By drawing from his Mexican and Irish American roots, as well as his life as a proud gay man, Chavarria flaunts his progressive principles while creating new and novel experiences on the runway.
    Cat Cardenas, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near pretentious

Cite this Entry

“Pretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentious. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pretentious

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