pretentious

[pri-ten-shuhs]

See more synonyms for pretentious on Thesaurus.com

adjective

characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved: a pretentious, self-important waiter.
making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.
full of pretense or pretension; having no factual basis; false.

Origin of pretentious

1835–45; earlier pretensious. See pretense, -ious

Related formspre·ten·tious·ly, adverbpre·ten·tious·ness, noun

Can be confusedportentous pretentious

Synonyms for pretentious

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1. pompous. 2. showy.

Synonym study

1. See bombastic. 2. See grandiose.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for pretentiousness

grandiosity, ostentation, pretension, pomposity, arrogance, egotism, vanity, cockiness, smugness, immodesty, grandioseness

Examples from the Web for pretentiousness

Contemporary Examples of pretentiousness

House, M.D., was a series from the get go, so no worries about pretentiousness.
‘House, M.D.’ Series Finale: Almost Like Saying Goodbye to a Friend
Malcolm Jones
May 21, 2012
The infamous cable about the pretentiousness, quirks, and unpredictability of Muammar Gaddafi is but one example.
WikiLeaks’ Harmful New Dump
P.J. Crowley
August 31, 2011

Historical Examples of pretentiousness

The novelty of the thing, and the pretentiousness in which he had swaddled it, had deceived them finely.
Scaramouche
Rafael Sabatini
I can see none of that pretentiousness that Edith Bryce led us to expect.'
Lover or Friend
Rosa Nouchette Carey
I am no politician, nor given to tricks nor to pretentiousness.
Letters and Literary Memorials of Samuel J. Tilden, v. 2
Samuel J. Tilden
Anecdotes were told of his self-assurance, his vanity, his pretentiousness.
Mount Royal, Volume 3 of 3
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Nevertheless he regarded it as essentially absurd in its pretentiousness.
The Price of Love
Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for pretentiousness

pretentious

adjective

making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly
having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious

Derived Formspretentiously, adverbpretentiousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pretentiousness

pretentious

adj.

1836, from French prétentieux (17c.), from prétention "pretension," from Medieval Latin pretentionem (nominative pretentio) "pretension," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin praetendere (see pretend (v.)).