1
as in unaffected
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unpretentious
The gallery was known for its unpretentious atmosphere and for bringing attention to cutting-edge artists in the early stages of their careers, including Harold Ancart, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Huma Bhabha, Meriem Bennani, and Lili Reynaud-Dewar.
—
News Desk, Artforum, 8 Aug. 2025
Jumby Bay Island in Antigua is refined yet relaxed, chic yet unpretentious.
—Maria Diego, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
The Vibe Sanders is chic and buzzy — yet relaxed and unpretentious.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The charmingly unpretentious cottage, which measures around 1,100 square feet, felt at ease on the rambling landscape and true to the area’s history.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
News Desk, Artforum, 8 Aug. 2025
Jumby Bay Island in Antigua is refined yet relaxed, chic yet unpretentious.
—Maria Diego, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
The Vibe Sanders is chic and buzzy — yet relaxed and unpretentious.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The charmingly unpretentious cottage, which measures around 1,100 square feet, felt at ease on the rambling landscape and true to the area’s history.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
-
Outside of health care and social assistance, a sector in which job growth seems to be unaffected by over-all trends, the downturn in hiring extended across large parts of the economy, with fewer than half of all private-sector industries adding jobs last month.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The 2026 visa cap has already been reached, meaning current sponsorships are unaffected.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One result of the growth is a quiet boom in Southeast Asian grocery stores and restaurants.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Inside, lofted seating positions deliver an elevated view while quilted semi-aniline leather and acoustic glass buffer passengers in comfort and quiet.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The humble butter dish, once a purely practical necessity, is enjoying a significant revival, now being showcased on countertops and dining tables in vessels that are both stylish and functional.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Algorithmic Literacy requires genuine technical comprehension of AI capabilities, constraints, and ethical implications.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But despite a certain staginess, and a tendency for the plot to suddenly stop to make way for the acting, Hedda is actually a genuine attempt to mine something new from the old text, a compelling fusion of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s not the kind of hold that the mid-budget neo noir was depending on after a muted opening.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The dresses, in muted shades ranging from pale pink to pearl gray, cream and black, contrast layers of vaporous tulle and organza with long ruffled skirts and collared capes in satin or taffeta edged with lace.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What threatened to be a meek, straight-sets exit for the 13th seed went full-metal crazy on match point down when Bonzi was interrupted from serving it out after a photographer absent-mindedly walked onto the court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
With just a few chairs, a handful of tables and a simple tent, the setting was intimate but filled with love and intention.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
And one of these, for those of us accustomed to British conventions but who follow the game in continental Europe, is the simple passage of time.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Prior to that, the castle had a more classical look, with creams and grays and blue accents that were more subdued than the current shades in use.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The subdued look was hand-crafted, and took over 300 hour to make.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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