pretentious 1 of 2

adjective

pri-ˈten(t)-shəs How to pronounce pretentious (audio)
Definition of pretentiousnext
1
as in arrogant
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance that pretentious couple always serves caviar at their parties, even though they themselves dislike it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in superior
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude a pretentious author whose books only appeal to equally pretentious readers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pretentiousness

2 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ostentation
excessive or unnecessary display the sheer pretentiousness of the debutante's wedding

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pretentious different from other adjectives like it?

The words ostentatious and showy are common synonyms of pretentious. While all three words mean "given to excessive outward display," pretentious implies an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing.

a pretentious parade of hard words

When might ostentatious be a better fit than pretentious?

In some situations, the words ostentatious and pretentious are roughly equivalent. However, ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade.

the ostentatious summer homes of the rich

When is it sensible to use showy instead of pretentious?

The words showy and pretentious can be used in similar contexts, but showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste.

the performers' showy costumes

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pretentious
Adjective
Not to sound pretentious, but Elwood Dowd is sort of like a Christlike figure. — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 Again, what sounds pretentious is replaced with a story on the importance of storytelling itself, as a way to resist cruelty and recognize hope. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
Noun
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 See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentious
  1. arrogant
  2. pompous
  3. ostentatious
  4. grandiose
  5. smug
  6. proud
  7. high-minded
Adjective
  • The arrogant, brooding youth is gone almost entirely, and someone far more circumspect and humbled kneels before his older brother.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Fight for the Soul of College Football, as the Hurricanes’ bold, brash and arrogant style transformed college football into something closer to theater.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Does little Arabella care about going to another stuffy awards dinner with her pompous dad?
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
  • Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of pompous
Adjective
  • His informal getup, a T-shirt and shorts, contrasts with the elegant environment primed for business lunches and ostentatious dinners.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
  • Decorated with cool gray tones, marble and leather accents, and crisp white bedding, the rooms feel upscale but not ostentatious.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026
Definition of ostentatious
Adjective
  • Serra’s immersive event, a rapture of colors and shadows, pays fittingly grandiose tribute to an emissary of a legendary cinematic era.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Rays, meanwhile, may be leading the American League East, but their postseason outlook is not as grandiose as Los Angeles.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of grandiose
Adjective
  • Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • This Queens bakery comes from two restaurant-industry veterans and proud Filipinos Kimberly Camara and Kevin Borja, who started a pop-up back in 2020 and quickly developed a cult following that demanded a brick-and-mortar.
    — Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Salesforce is proud to be an early investor, customer, and partner.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • There are many valid readings of this high-minded, heavy-handed modern drama of despair, desperation, love and survival instincts.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • My bookcase is filled with high-minded proposals made by expert panels, mostly to address budget deficits.
    — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of high-minded

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pretentious
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Cite this Entry

“Pretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentious. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pretentious for Spanish Speakers

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