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View synonyms for

pretentious

[ pri-ten-shuhs ]

adjective

  1. characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved:

    a pretentious, self-important waiter.

    Synonyms:

  2. making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

    Synonyms:

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


pretentious

/ ɪˈɛʃə /

adjective

  1. making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly
  2. having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱԳپdzܲ, adverb
  • ˈٱԳپdzܲԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ٱtdzܲ· adverb
  • ·ٱtdzܲ·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pretentious1

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There might be a mythic air to places like San Francisco or its pretentious older sister city, Los Angeles.

From

Ms Jacobs said a staff member was making "pretentious, derogatory comments".

From

And so he prefaces that he’s not trying to be a “pretentious a—” when explaining the appeal of his chocolate but adds that after making some initial batches, he went on a chocolate-buying spree.

From

I looked online and there were so many comments about how much people hated my hair, and how it made me just seem so unapproachable and pretentious.

From

"The more pretentious Tory MPs will say 'do you know who I am?'. Labour ones are more like 'do you know how important I am?'," he laughs.

From

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pretensivepreter-