pretentious

American  

[pri-ten-shuhs] / prɪˈtɛn ʃəs /

adjective

1. characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved.

   a pretentious, self-important waiter.

   Synonyms:

   pompous

2. making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

   Synonyms:

   showy

3. full of pretense or pretension; having no factual basis; false.

---

pretentious British  

/ prɪˈtɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly

2. having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious

---

Related Words

See bombastic. See grandiose.

Other Word Forms

• pretentiously adverb
• pretentiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of pretentious

First recorded in 1835–45; earlier pretensious; equivalent to pretense + -ious

Example Sentences

Here, Coppola brings her respectable, confident disregard for the outsider’s opinion to the documentary format, churning out a film that feels proud but not pretentious.

From Salon

I know that sounds super baseball pretentious, like I should be wearing a straw hat and a bow tie, but I don’t care.

From The Wall Street Journal

Indeed, Ray’s initial draft was “very lean — I was so afraid of boring people, of seeming pretentious.”

From Los Angeles Times

If I really want to sound pretentious, I’d call the Super Bowl the final fireplace of the digital era, with a live audience that dwarfs every other show in the U.S., even Bluey.

From The Wall Street Journal

That’s the burden of a comedy devoid of wasted dialogue or pretentious cleverness – and that merely refers to the joke setups and punchlines.

From Salon

Related Words

• arty
• exaggerated
• grandiose
• hollow
• overblown
• pompous
• showy
• stilted
• turgid