1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
everyone took her ingrained pretentiousness into account when considering her statements
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ostentation
excessive or unnecessary display
the sheer pretentiousness of the debutante's wedding
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 utter pretentiousness of the movie is matched only by the incomprehensibility of its story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretentiousness
Coleman found no pretentiousness in Trafford, and he was not perturbed by the drop in facilities compared to the Etihad Campus.
—
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentiousness
Noun
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The series follows the fictional Holliday, a former star whose arrogance burned every bridge.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Blenkin told Variety in September 2025 that his character's laughter comes from arrogance.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Formula 1 has Monaco, with its ostentation and air of exclusivity.—
Jonathan Hawkins,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Never through excess or ostentation, but through quiet discipline — a meditative expression of grace.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But Lloyd’s awkward staging here and questionable affectations (including an audience clap-along) makes Pozzo’s relationship with Lucky unfocused and puzzling.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The band sets aside the winks and retro affectations for something unadorned and honest.—
Sarah Grant,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But those cameras don’t fit in your pocket, which is why the iPhone has long been, and continues to be, the best camera for anyone who wants to move light, fast, and far—and the updates to the sensors reinforce its superiority.—
Jakob Schiller,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
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With over 600 DEXs now operating according to Grvt’s estimates, pure technological superiority or lower fees no longer guarantee success.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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America’s most steadfast allies in this bit of the 21st century are the Gulf monarchies, true and unapologetic kingdoms big on pomp and light on participation.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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His love of wealth could be exceeded only by his love of pomp and display.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But she is best remembered for Keeping Up Appearances and her role as Hyacinth Bucket, a working-class woman with pretensions of social superiority.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
3 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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One of the things that make Jude Law such an interesting actor, especially in his middle age, has been his ability to direct his flamboyance and his physicality towards unlikely ends.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 Sep. 2025
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Jones says Lee’s versatility – ranging from her quietly powerful performance in Past Lives to more comedic roles in Russian Doll more recently The Studio – shines through in her performance as Gloria, whose outward flamboyance hides a darker reality.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Multiple Democrats say Vought and the president were determined to use the shutdown as a pretense for inflicting further pain on political opponents.—
Franco Ordoñez,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
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Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.—
Anne Reeve,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretentiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentiousness. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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