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
Relevance
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentiousness
Noun
-
Needless to say there was no second date, and, eventually though painfully, my own arrogance had some of its rough edges worn down.
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In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
Noun
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While Vico has been careful to avoid any kind of ostentation, Argentaia offers a spa, a tennis court, a stunning 100-foot saltwater infinity pool overlooking the valley, and a movie theater.
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The atmosphere aligns with the philosophy: no ostentation, no grand production.
Noun
-
The elder Taylor exuded the easy-going charm of a music legend who is free of any airs or affectations.
-
Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society.
Noun
-
Critics argued that the message of a White man elevated above both a Native American and an African symbolized racial superiority.
-
Word about Hitler’s belief in Aryan superiority had spread far, and many observers warned of its genocidal, war-bringing ramifications.
Noun
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With rising political violence, including recent incidents near the White House, and a president who enjoys being at the center of public pomp yet has repeatedly faced attempts on his life, a major security challenge awaits.
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Lucky winners will get up to four tickets to primo viewing areas at Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn and the South Street Seaport in Manhattan to soak in all the pomp and pageantry of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Noun
-
Impartial, fact-finding and without pretension, Burns turns his camera to our history in a sober-but-not-boring manner.
-
To adore the literary greats but reject any modicum of pretension?
Noun
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These flourishes, recalling New York’s Jazz Age flamboyance, give the vast interior its fizz — and will inevitably have value engineers salivating to trim, slice, and simplify.
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Nobody wants to hear this — not Eisenhower, not Krick and definitely not Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (Damian Lewis, leaning into the flamboyance).
Noun
-
The longevity industry profits from mystifying the obvious, but Emanuel largely dispenses with pretense.
-
In granting the President this unbridled authority, the Court upends its precedent, misconstrues our history, and sheds any pretense of judicial modesty.
Cite this Entry
“Pretentiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentiousness. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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