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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 The primary element is a modest member of the legume family, the unpretentious black-eyed pea. Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 17 May 2025 But since inheriting the space that was the longtime home to Parisi Bakery, a supplier to many of the city’s top eateries, the spot has discreetly established itself as a stylish yet unpretentious refuge for fashion world fixtures to congregate on and off duty. Laura Neilson, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 With a warm, unpretentious atmosphere and a kitchen that’s truly at the top of its game, this is one of Florence’s best fine dining experiences. Paul Caputo, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 In another iconic food documentary on Netflix’s roster of originals, chef David Chang explores the vibrant — and sometimes prickly — intersections of culture, history, and cuisine in a refreshingly frank and unpretentious way. Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
  • These talismans of use are analogous to the often unaffected art work shown at Intuit.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
  • Even when the Panama Canal had endured a months-long drought that forced the ACP to implement a series of daily transit and draft restrictions throughout the second half of 2023, container ships had largely been unaffected compared to other vessels.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Young visitors will enjoy the splash pad and water slide, while guests ages 18 and older are welcome to relax in the quiet adults-only pool and hot tub.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
  • Without it, people go quiet, engagement drops and growth stalls.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • This journey from her humble beginnings to icon makes sense for a contemporary audience in terms of the pop stars of today, those iconic people in popular culture.
    Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 16 June 2025
  • Both men – Yousafzai, an education activist born in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, and Ranjit, a farmer of humble origins in a remote area of India – break from the traditions of their cultures by advocating forcefully for their daughters.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Coach Wall was a remarkable individual whose kindness and genuine spirit touched all who knew him.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
  • Today's audiences—both Hispanic and non-Hispanic—are savvy, diverse, and crave genuine representation and storytelling.
    Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • The muted response to these modern takes on decades-old classics perhaps explains the move toward reviving properties that resonate with much younger generations instead.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
  • London, on the other hand, has a much more muted outlook.
    Ryan Masiello, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • From small and relatively meek beginnings, proboscideans eventually evolved into herbivorous, elephantine giants with a broad array of different tusk arrangements and shapes.
    Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
  • That confidence paid off as Farrow received her first Tony nomination for her role as the initially meek homebody Sharon in the play by Jen Silverman, which ran at the Booth Theatre on Broadway from September through December 2024.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • While to some these screen-free devices may seem like a return to the early, simpler days of fitness trackers, Werring says the public is a bit more savvy than the step-counting obsessives of the 2010s.
    Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • In his formal lecture to the Academy, Campbell offered some reflections on the simple science that gave rise to the treatment, and to its wide array of applications.
    Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Defying the typical approach where women tend to remain subdued and silent, often fearful of additional scrutiny.
    Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Its madras inventory today includes these seven-inch shorts in a slightly more subdued and earthy pattern and color.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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