Synonyms of pretentiousness

pretentiousness

noun

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

• arrogance
• superiority
• pretension
• disdain
• attitude
• superciliousness
• haughtiness
• pomposity
• pretense
• imperiousness
• pompousness
• hauteur
• loftiness
• self-importance
• presumptuousness
• assumption
• peremptoriness
• consequence
• lordliness
• masterfulness
• bumptiousness
• pridefulness
• huffiness
• high horse
• vanity
• toploftiness
• snobbery
• snobbishness
• pride
• self-consequence
• condescension
• dominance
• snootiness
• snobbism
• scorn
• high-handedness
• bossiness
• smugness
• bravado
• boastfulness
• cheekiness
• inflation
• authoritativeness
• sauciness
• vainglory
• self-assertion
• brag
• triumphalism
• swagger
• egoism
• chest-thumping
• impudence
• self-satisfaction
• cockiness
• bowwow
• side
• bombast
• egotism
• braggadocio
• self-complacency
• self-conceit
• self-centeredness
• impertinence
• self-opinion
• conceit
• self-contentment
• strut
• self-content
• complacence
• vaingloriousness
• cheek
• swelled head
• superiority complex
• self-assumption
• self-partiality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humility
• modesty
• unpretentiousness
• shyness
• bashfulness
• timidity
• diffidence
• demureness
• self-doubt
• passivity
• meekness
• unassumingness
• submissiveness
• passiveness
• lowliness
• timidness
• quietness
• reserve
• retiringness
• self-distrust
• reservedness
• mousiness

2

as in ostentation

excessive or unnecessary display

the sheer pretentiousness of the debutante's wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ostentation
• pomp
• flamboyance
• spectacle
• glitz
• ornamentation
• luxuriousness
• ostentatiousness
• gaudiness
• luxuriance
• decoration
• garishness
• showiness
• flashiness
• swank
• pretense
• fanfare
• adornment
• flash
• dressing
• parade
• opulence
• extravagance
• richness
• pageantry
• mummery
• magnificence
• show
• sumptuousness
• extravaganza
• dazzle
• vulgarity
• pageant
• éclat
• trimming
• fanciness
• embellishment
• garnishment
• razzmatazz
• razzle-dazzle
• foofaraw
• tawdriness
• luridness
• meretriciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• severity
• restraint
• plainness
• simplicity
• austerity
• modesty
• moderation
• understatement
• elegance
• conservativeness
• minimalism
• gracefulness
• tastefulness

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

• affectation
• pretension
• arrogance
• pretense
• vanity
• disdain
• grandiosity
• inflation
• superiority
• pride
• affectedness
• confidence
• smugness
• snobbery
• snobbishness
• complacency
• haughtiness
• imperiousness
• pompousness
• superciliousness
• hauteur
• vainglory
• egotism
• self-satisfaction
• presumptuousness
• self-importance
• self-aggrandizement
• self-conceit
• conceit
• boastfulness
• vainness
• rudeness
• presumption
• self-assertion
• self-confidence
• self-assurance
• bumptiousness
• lordliness
• boldness
• ostentation
• cheekiness
• cockiness
• vaingloriousness
• aggressiveness
• audaciousness
• braggadocio
• forwardness
• assertiveness
• self-glorification
• sureness
• ostentatiousness
• flamboyance
• gaudiness
• insolence
• impudence
• garishness
• showiness
• grandiloquence
• glitz
• flashiness
• brassiness
• self-assumption
• self-consequence
• mummery
• show

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humility
• modesty
• humbleness
• meekness
• demureness
• lowliness
• timidity
• diffidence
• shyness
• sincerity
• bashfulness
• down-to-earthness
• naturalness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pretentiousness

Gabrielle and Katerina credit the enduring appeal of Dan Tana’s to its persistent lack of pretentiousness. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Advertisement Jones uses his antihero’s blunt self-appraisals to avoid the pretentiousness endemic to stories about artists. — Judy Berman, Time, 2 June 2026

There's no pretentiousness or rigid formality, but the service, food, and wine are top-notch. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026

The lack of pretentiousness signals something about who’s welcome there. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2025

There’s a pretentiousness that begins to show itself as folks get more comfortable. — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 20 Oct. 2025

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