1
as in arrogant
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
that pretentious couple always serves caviar at their parties, even though they themselves dislike it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in superior
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
a pretentious author whose books only appeal to equally pretentious readers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretentious
Her capriciousness leads her into an affair with a frustrated professor, Mark (Michael Angarano), who compliments her writing and composes pretentious, backhandedly insulting poems about their not-quite-love.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Chic but not pretentious, Belden House and Mews has blown a refreshing breeze of European style into the tiny enclave about two hours from New York City, that is also packed with hundreds of miles of hiking trails and classic landscapes.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
But none of that does much to camouflage a core drama that’s pretentious and dull.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
In The Menu, a 2022 dark comedy that satirizes ultra-fine dining during a pretentious and ultimately violent dinner, Graham’s seaweed appears in the very first course, dramatically draped over a plate of rocks.
—Megan Zhang, Saveur, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Chic but not pretentious, Belden House and Mews has blown a refreshing breeze of European style into the tiny enclave about two hours from New York City, that is also packed with hundreds of miles of hiking trails and classic landscapes.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
But none of that does much to camouflage a core drama that’s pretentious and dull.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
In The Menu, a 2022 dark comedy that satirizes ultra-fine dining during a pretentious and ultimately violent dinner, Graham’s seaweed appears in the very first course, dramatically draped over a plate of rocks.
—Megan Zhang, Saveur, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretentious
Adjective
-
The tricky part of being a celebrity like Firstman on the internet is that some people can conflate your comedic persona (which is maybe a little arrogant, a little colorful) with your real identity.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Then give the land back, you pompous charlatans.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
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And the less said of the poorly mixed, pompous Machina, the better.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There had been ostentatious boats before — automobile millionaire Henry Dodge had commissioned the luxurious but smaller SS Delphine in the 1920s — but Onassis brought floating plutocratic potency into a whole new age.—
Michael Ballaban,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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Where these collections once prioritized open-toed sandals and breezy silhouettes, more ostentatious and conceptual collections have instead followed suit.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Mario series was maturing alongside the greater video-game landscape, but its childlike essence remained—not through docile cuteness, but through a more grandiose fusion of wonder, whimsy, and wistfulness.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
9 May 2026
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Victory Day is one of the most important national holidays in modern Russia, featuring a grandiose parade to celebrate and commemorate its defeat of Hitler’s Wehrmacht in 1945.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Subsequent photos showed the proud parents smiling in the audience as their daughter walked across the stage to collect her degree, Zahra alongside her friends in their graduation regalia and a glimpse at a family celebration.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
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Paul McCartney is proud of the impact his music has on people.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Or a group of high-minded, dutiful, quite-conscientious California voters?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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Her work is the apex of the avant-garde made accessible, high-minded and emotionally charged without being alienating.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretentious. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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