pretentious

[ pri-ten-shuhs ]
See synonyms for pretentious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved: a pretentious, self-important waiter.

  2. making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

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

Origin of pretentious

1
First recorded in 1835–45; earlier pretensious; equivalent to pretense + -ious

synonym study For pretentious

1. See bombastic. 2. See grandiose.

Other words for pretentious

Other words from pretentious

  • pre·ten·tious·ly, adverb
  • pre·ten·tious·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with pretentious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pretentious in a sentence

  • It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.

    A Pagan of the Hills | Charles Neville Buck
  • Even leaving aside the discomforts which are always allied to pretentiousness, the poor rich woman has a hard time of it.

    Town Life in Australia | R. E. N. (Richard) Twopeny
  • Some human vanity the north tower of Chartres displays, but no arrogant pride, no Renaissance pretentiousness.

    How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
  • Whether Meredith himself was more ashamed of their tailoring or their pretentiousness it is not easy to decide.

    The Art of Letters | Robert Lynd

British Dictionary definitions for pretentious

pretentious

/ (prɪˈtɛnʃəs) /


adjective
  1. making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly

  2. 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