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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unpretentious
Shorthand for authentic and unpretentious.
—
Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Come for the seafood and stay for the weekend live music and waterfront views that draw a loyal, unpretentious crowd.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The atmosphere is regal and luxurious, yet settling and unpretentious.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
And the restaurant’s unpretentious approach to French food is very much in line with Wise’s personality.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Come for the seafood and stay for the weekend live music and waterfront views that draw a loyal, unpretentious crowd.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The atmosphere is regal and luxurious, yet settling and unpretentious.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
And the restaurant’s unpretentious approach to French food is very much in line with Wise’s personality.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
-
The plants and vines have grown, the tufu limestone has mellowed, the staff have bedded in, and the feel that this is a genuine Puglian village (even though it was built entirely from scratch) has been sealed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
In this period before culture was so profoundly professionalized, populism and pluralism were genuine material questions of public participation, access, and power.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is quiet luxury in hotel form.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
And yet art-world institutions—including major museums, schools, commercial galleries, and publishing outlets—have mostly avoided the fawning capitulation of universities and Democrats, simply going quiet in the hope of escaping notice for the next three years.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
The quality emerging from this food stall inside Edgewater Public Market doesn’t match its humble name or decor.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Primaries for the state's three other House seats unaffected by redrawing were held last week.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
-
Earlier this month, Reform UK, a right-wing populist group promoting stricter border controls, shattered any illusion that Liverpool, which since the 1980s has been associated with the left, is unaffected by political tides.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
His trademark cool was sidelined by a more demonstrative style, closer to the theatrical sensibilities of 2Pac than the muted menace that once defined him.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
-
Breeding siblings The first step was to find a common bean plant with a muted In11 receptor.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Their 1-1 draw instead brought a meek defence of their Premier League title to an end.—
Luke Bosher,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
-
Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The most honest conclusion may also be the most sobering one.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
After Sinner left the court during his second-round loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Evert said tennis has to be honest about two things at once.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
After years dominated by the reliable little black dress and subdued minimalism, wedding guest attire is swinging loudly in the opposite direction.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
-
But the mood in the room at Citi’s Tribeca headquarters was more subdued than expected.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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