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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unpretentious With miles of scenic beachfront, tons of local small businesses, and a welcoming, unpretentious vibe, South Bay's Beach Cities truly have something for everyone. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025 The film takes the conventional language of cinema and executes it with unpretentious excellence. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 14 July 2025 But the premises of this New York space will remind you not at all of a diner but of a sophisticated but unpretentious dining room done all in red with pink and red tablecloths. John Mariani, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 The choice of a caffè was unpretentious, warm, alive with possibility. Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
  • Thirty to 100 percent increases are being asked for apartments built since 1947 and therefore unaffected by rent-control laws.
    Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Some of the areas most closely watched for tariff impact nationwide were largely unaffected.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As this collection of stories shows, libraries (and librarians) can be both quiet witnesses to and active participants in social change and history-making events.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Thessaloniki, however, pulses with spice-laden markets, waterfront cafés, and Byzantine mosaics tucked into quiet chapels.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The film stars Mark Feuerstein as Rabbi Mo, a humble leader in a high-desert Jewish community who is thrust into the role of reluctant warrior after a violent attack shakes his world.
    Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Chelsea may go into the new Premier League campaign wearing a gold badge on their shirts that marks them out as reigning world champions after their triumph in the United States last month but, internally, the message from the club hierarchy is to stay humble and keep working.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The most effective solution lies in embracing genuine flexibility.
    Rob Lydic, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • With big sponsors such as Barclays, promoters like Live Nation and even investors like Blackrock, Vanguard and KKR now a target for activists, there’s a genuine fear that the tap could be turned off.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, contemporary design prevails–muted tones, clean lines, and a focus on natural Scottish wellness.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The immediate effect of rescheduling on the nation’s criminal justice system would also likely be more muted, since federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years.
    Addy Bink, The Hill, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Subsequently, Pakistan also bargained down the new American tariffs on its goods from 29% to 19% — relatively meek next to India’s rate.
    Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
  • That 19% share is meek compared with where U.S. investors are most intensely busy – in states with small populations and tourism hooks.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • In North Carolina, Republicans are a few votes shy of a supermajority in one chamber but still control the redistricting process because the state’s congressional maps are not subject to veto and therefore can be passed by a simple majority in the legislature.
    Elena Shao, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The recycled leather lanyard adds to its convenience and simple, timeless style.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The bank also published a subdued note from chief economist Jan Hatzius that forecast U.S. GDP growth would be only 1% in the second half of the year.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Over the past three months, Trump has been engaged in multiple rounds of saber-rattling and often intense negotiations with U.S. trading partners that have jangled nerves but nonetheless coincided with a subdued but solid pace of economic growth.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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