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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretentious
In The Menu, a 2022 dark comedy that satirizes ultra-fine dining during a pretentious and ultimately violent dinner, Graham’s seaweed appears in the very first course, dramatically draped over a plate of rocks.
—
Megan Zhang, Saveur, 8 Apr. 2026
The service Finessed but friendly, high touch but never pretentious.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
Dim lights, a chic elegant interior, a chatty and trendy crowd, a menu that’s sophisticated but not too pretentious, and a welcoming bar (plus a little je ne sais quoi) are to be expected.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
And The Row’s appeal at first seemed like a pretentious effort to keep the TikTok crowd from gaping at its founders Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s it-shoes and fab-drab tailoring.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Megan Zhang, Saveur, 8 Apr. 2026
The service Finessed but friendly, high touch but never pretentious.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
Dim lights, a chic elegant interior, a chatty and trendy crowd, a menu that’s sophisticated but not too pretentious, and a welcoming bar (plus a little je ne sais quoi) are to be expected.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
And The Row’s appeal at first seemed like a pretentious effort to keep the TikTok crowd from gaping at its founders Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s it-shoes and fab-drab tailoring.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentious
Adjective
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The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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However, many thought Tilson Thomas too brash and arrogant to lead an orchestra, and, around the same time, Tilson Thomas fell in with New York’s disco-hopping crowd.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And the less said of the poorly mixed, pompous Machina, the better.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
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The pompous clergyman enters the life of the Bennet family, his distant cousins, with the assumption that, given his respectable position and benefactor, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, one of those daughters would be happy to marry him.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Why does City Hall need to be so big and ostentatious?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
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In equally ostentatious fashion, Corey Gamble showed off a rare gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak that is rumored to be reserved for just 50 VIP clients.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Fuqua specifically used the historic hotel's grandiose architecture to set the scene for various scenes involving Michael's press and public appearances.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
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The first type is replete with hallucinations and delusions—voices, visions, grandiose beliefs, paranoia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The proud Westeros family of dragonlords have always been intent on making things bend to their (fair-haired, dragon-loving) will, even when the chips were down.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Apr. 2026
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Gordon Ramsay is one proud dad as daughter Tilly Ramsay completes the TCS London Marathon on April 26 in London.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But while Taylor Sheridan’s shows, product enhancements and even blockbuster movies were on the menu, the pitch from Ellison and his team was at times more high-minded.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
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In government, Orbán could be composed and high-minded.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentious. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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