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
-
Mitchell prides himself on being a no-nonsense, no-bulls*** kind of man, but his attitude can sometimes come across as arrogance.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
This arrogance is not just limited to tech titans.—
Christian Josi,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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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The band sets aside the winks and retro affectations for something unadorned and honest.—
Sarah Grant,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
-
The scenic appeal is undeniable, nature’s majestic prose both frames and dwarfs the tumultuous affectations of the characters.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Timothy Olyphant, again, sells the superiority well.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Originally from Ohio, Howard would whisper-speak his lectures to a crowded room, describing with fatigued superiority people (including his family) who couldn’t properly appreciate Nijinsky.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Each dish is a snapshot of the chef’s life, presented with no pomp or ego.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
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In a conference room inside the New York Stock Exchange, however, no champagne corks were popping and the mood was decidedly subdued despite the pomp of ringing of the closing bell.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
By showing both timelines, director Cato Kusters resists using Julian’s illness as a plot device, encouraging us to watch these women without the pretense of melodrama.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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But not everyone accepts that pretense.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretentiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentiousness. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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