1
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quiet
not excessively showy
lives in a rather unpretentious house for someone so wealthy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
the unpretentious disposition of an award-winning scientist who has nothing to prove to anyone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of unpretentious
His wife, a former fashion editor and stylist, is known for her meticulous but unpretentious sensibility.
—
Christine Lennon, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
To watch any one of Wiseman’s films is to fall under the spell of a master who used the medium to make the viewer a more empathetic and enlightened person, supplying the pleasure of watching human nature through the perceptive eye of a humorous, unpretentious man with insatiable curiosity.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
The atmosphere is also lovely and unpretentious.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
At Naïve Kitchen + Bar, Latin flavors meet Kentucky sensibility in a menu that’s vibrant, ingredient-driven, and refreshingly unpretentious.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Christine Lennon, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
To watch any one of Wiseman’s films is to fall under the spell of a master who used the medium to make the viewer a more empathetic and enlightened person, supplying the pleasure of watching human nature through the perceptive eye of a humorous, unpretentious man with insatiable curiosity.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
The atmosphere is also lovely and unpretentious.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
At Naïve Kitchen + Bar, Latin flavors meet Kentucky sensibility in a menu that’s vibrant, ingredient-driven, and refreshingly unpretentious.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
-
Verbal commitments should lead to genuine action, even if we’re intimidated by what must be done.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The service Utterly Balinese and therefore utterly lovely—all smiles and genuine ‘how-has-your-day-beens’.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Aside from some quiet complaints about the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocols for people sitting around the court, no one offered anything other than positive reviews.—
Mac Engel
March 31,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite her difficult start, Kaiko has since been recovering in her new home, with the viral video capturing a quiet but significant milestone—her first night sleeping indoors.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with this, but outsourcing the writing to professionals only underscored the degree to which this humble document, once meant to blunt the puffery of the cover letter, had now become the leading weapon in the job seeker’s arsenal.—
Stephen Mihm,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Sporks have come a long way from their humble beginnings in Rhode Island, and as the traveler’s preferred eating utensil, they’re destined to go ever further.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The electronic poll books were unaffected by the flood and didn’t need to be replaced.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Such data could yield a more precise way to measure lightning power unaffected by obscuring clouds.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the meantime, the Bay Area will stay dry on Thursday with a notable warming trend as temperatures rise back into the 80s across the interior, with a more muted warmup (into the 70s) closer to the water.—
Greg Porter,
San Francisco Chronicle,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In markets, trading has been mixed across Asia, while European futures indicate a muted open.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The other, meek and mild-mannered.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The team were meek in defeat, but after a weekend carousing and communing in central London, Newcastle fans arrived at Wembley with a collective hangover.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s nothing funnier than being honest.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Ready to be honest about what lights you up?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Loose ends and compelling payoffs await after a subdued and slow-ish first frame that struggles with a balance between dark brooding and uneven lull.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Institutional investors spent much of the first quarter selling upside bets—effectively wagering that prices wouldn’t rise sharply—to generate income in a subdued market, said James Harris, chief executive officer at asset manager Tesseract.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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