pretentious

[ pri-ten-shuhs ]

/ prɪˈtɛn ʃəs /

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.

Nearby words

pretended, pretender, pretense, pretension, pretensive, pretentious, preter-, preterhuman, preterist, preterit, preterite

Origin of pretentious

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

SYNONYMS FOR pretentious

1 pompous.

2 showy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pretentious ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Can be confusedportentous pretentious

Synonym study

1. See bombastic. 2. See grandiose.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
But Cassy, instinctively insolent to pretentiousness, was very simple with the simple.
The Paliser case|Edgar Saltus
Nevertheless he regarded it as essentially absurd in its pretentiousness.
The Price of Love|Arnold Bennett

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
He probed character with a glance, and was particularly sharp on pretentiousness and self-importance.
Collections and Recollections|George William Erskine Russell
She loved the wayward and the desolate: pretentiousness in any disguise was the one thing she suspected and could not tolerate.
Mauprat|George Sand

British Dictionary definitions for pretentiousness

pretentious

/ (prɪˈtɛnʃəs) /

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

pretentious

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of pretentious

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for pretentiousness

British Dictionary definitions for pretentiousness

pretentious

adjective