Pretentious

Quick meaning: Pretentious is an adjective meaning Motivated by an inappropriate, excessive, or unjustified desire to impress others.

Meaning

Motivated by an inappropriate, excessive, or unjustified desire to impress others.

More Meanings

1. Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

Example Sentences

Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.

Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.

The station (1840) was originally Cheltenham but the more grandiose Cheltenham Spa since 1925, which feels a bit pretentious as the town has never allowed itself to assume such airs and graces.

I recall the height of comfort attained by the green-cushioned "first" with starched white antimacassars and a pretentious grey floor mat on which it seemed a sacrilege to stand, as it was embellished with the North Western conception of Britannia, complete with trident.

Synonyms for pretentious

Depending on context, synonyms include highfalutin, affected, effete, fey, hoity-toity, overrefined.

Antonyms for pretentious

Common opposites include unpretentious, humble, modest, demure, formal, natural.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include high-sounding, highfalutin, high-flown, pompous, hoity-toity, jumped-up.

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