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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This arrogance is not just limited to tech titans.—
Christian Josi,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
-
These traits do not always show up as arrogance.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Never through excess or ostentation, but through quiet discipline — a meditative expression of grace.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
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Their minimalist bottles and containers photograph beautifully, their price points signal exclusivity without screaming ostentation, and their international origins provide cultural cache.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
Noun
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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
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As a director, Serio has made a name for himself with these kinds of actor-forward, hyperintimate, hyperreal stagings — Uncle Vanya in a loft — and this is a case where minimalism comes across as an affectation.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Early birds have long basked in the glory of health superiority, sometimes even tinged with a hit of moral righteousness.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
4 Sep. 2025
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For DeMuth, the goal is not only technical superiority but national strategic advantage.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Beyond the pomp, analysts are watching whether the trio may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region.—
Joe Cash,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Collectively, these four viral posts expertly trolling Belichick pomp received nearly 225,000 likes, were reposted 11,000 times, and were picked by media outlets such as Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, and USA Today.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Chicago Athletic Association offers an elevated members club experience without the steely pretension.—
Kate Kassin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
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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
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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
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Hallways, for example, have terrazzo flooring, curved edges and rounded doorways that provide a stately counterpoint to Faena’s flamboyance.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
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But not everyone accepts that pretense.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
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But the Jiménezes’ work does not carry the pretense of purity.—
Ana Karina Zatarain,
New Yorker,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretentiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentiousness. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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