pretentious [ pri-ten -shuh s ] SHOW IPA
/ prɪˈtɛn ʃəs / PHONETIC RESPELLING
adjective
characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved: a pretentious, self-important waiter.
making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.
OTHER WORDS FOR pretentious
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"
"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."
Question 1 of 7
IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?
Origin of pretentious 1835–45; earlier
pretensious. See
pretense ,
-ious
synonym study for pretentious
OTHER WORDS FROM pretentious pre·ten·tious·ly, adverb pre·ten·tious·ness, noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pretentious portentous , pretentious
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
Words related to pretentious arty ,
exaggerated ,
grandiose ,
hollow ,
overblown ,
pompous ,
showy ,
stilted ,
turgid ,
ostentatious ,
affected ,
assuming ,
aureate ,
big ,
bombastic ,
chichi ,
conspicuous ,
euphuistic ,
extravagant ,
feigned
How to use pretentious in a sentence Conquering 2021 may seem like an overly pretentious plan, especially for an immigrant who is just beginning to take his own steps in this great country.
Moreover, Trebek’s performance didn’t just lack pretension, it was anti-pretentious .
House, M.D., was a series from the get go, so no worries about pretentious ness.
The infamous cable about the pretentious ness, quirks, and unpredictability of Muammar Gaddafi is but one example.
The rooms were just ordinary hotel rooms, furnished with the dingy, wholesale pretentious ness of hotels of the second rate.
It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentious ness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
Even leaving aside the discomforts which are always allied to pretentious ness, the poor rich woman has a hard time of it.
Some human vanity the north tower of Chartres displays, but no arrogant pride, no Renaissance pretentious ness.
Whether Meredith himself was more ashamed of their tailoring or their pretentious ness it is not easy to decide.
SEE MORE EXAMPLES SEE FEWER EXAMPLES
British Dictionary definitions for pretentious
adjective
making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly
having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious
Derived forms of pretentious pretentiously , adverb pretentiousness , 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