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
For Rosenthal, a haimish service style — that’s Yiddish for cozily unpretentious — is crucial to the venture.
—
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
Her natural and melodious style, so swift and unpretentious, bears death and danger on its wings.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
The stylish but unpretentious haunt was a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category.
—Shauna Farnell, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
Her natural and melodious style, so swift and unpretentious, bears death and danger on its wings.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
The stylish but unpretentious haunt was a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category.
—Shauna Farnell, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
Adjective
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Town & Country takes its characters and their struggles at face value and, despite some gentle needling, celebrates their genuine camaraderie and familial commitment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
According to the filmmakers, the character’s journey toward genuine courage forms the emotional core of the story.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Chicago Bears were relatively quiet ahead of the NFL trade deadline.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Hotel Fasano São Paulo Itaim Consistently top-notch, from the beds to the dining, Hotel Fasano exudes quiet luxury.—
Jade Moyano,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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From bright, bold hard-shell spinners to the humble duffel bag, carry-on luggage comes in seemingly endless varieties.—
Sal Vaglica,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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Well, maybe not cheering, exactly, but at least nodding in mild appreciation at a movie that realizes its humble and happy purpose.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Yahoo Newscontinued that when prey struck the web perpendicularly, the waves produced were unaffected by the stabilimenta.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
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There’s also Alani (True Whitaker), an unaffected nepo baby who just wants everyone to get along, and Charlie (Jordan Firstman), an aspiring designer who is carving his own path after deciding the traditional routes weren’t working for him.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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It was all suitably muted and understated.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
-
BeCalm is full of smart little touches that make life easier — think hidden pockets for your phone, buttery-soft fabrics that never cling, and muted tones that actually make getting dressed feel calming.—
Katie Ann Lehman,
StyleCaster,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tessa Thompson stars as the willful heroine, married to a rather meek academic, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), who’s angling for an important university position.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
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Employment growth is meek, but the labor market is holding steady.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His memoir is a patchy affair, to be honest, which omits entire swaths of his achievement, yet its wayward momentum exerts a certain charm, as if Hopkins were only just in control of his reminiscences.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Walks that resulted in us having the deepest, most honest and even the funniest conversations of our lives together.—
Louis Casiano , Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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While Nash-Betts wore a plunging electric blue gown with a mermaid silhouette, Betts coordinated in a snakeskin trenchcoat with a more subdued shade of blue.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
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Fernandez decorated the home’s interiors with a warm, subdued palette to give the place a serene family-friendly vibe.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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