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Showing results for unpretentious. Search instead for unabstentious.
Synonyms

unpretentious

American  
[uhn-pri-ten-shuhs] / ˌʌn prɪˈtɛn ʃəs /

adjective

  1. not pretentious; modest; without ostentatious display; plain.

    his unpretentious demeanor; an unpretentious summer resort.
    Synonyms:
    easy, open, plain, humble
unpretentious British  
/ ˌʌnprɪˈtɛnʃəs /

adjective

  1. not making claim to distinction or importance undeservedly

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unpretentiously adverb
  • unpretentiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of unpretentious

First recorded in 1855–60; un- 1 + pretentious

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Over his four-decade spanning career, Colicchio has brought a produce-focused, unpretentious approach to modern fine dining.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

It's well-loved and unpretentious, with Chanel and Dior handbags dangling from the ceiling, and shelves of crystal-embellished heels.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

I found him unpretentious and easygoing in conversation, not given to theoretical double-talk, and with none of the abrasive New York swagger of his contemporaries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Delgado, who goes by his yoga name, Raghavan Dad, was soft spoken and unpretentious, a gentle but authoritative presence.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025

Headquarters for the company is a low-slung, unpretentious red brick building.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.