1
2
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
a woman full of pretension and pompousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in affectation
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case
the pretension of that French restaurant is more than I can bear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
has serious pretensions of becoming a writer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretension
Harrington recently appeared on the Cookie Jar Golf podcast and opened up about how the then-21-year-old McIlroy shattered his pretensions as a heavy favorite to win the title.
—
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Rush were almost in danger of becoming too brainy and obscure for their own good by the end of the ’70s, but the band would rein in their pretensions with tighter songwriting in the albums that would follow.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
There’s no pretension or judgment here, but nearly everything is pleasing to the eye.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
Even Saanen’s most renowned, high-end establishments remain low-key and devoid of pretension, like 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT, credited by Michelin as Bib Gourmand for an experience and culinary offering that is both high quality and good value.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Rush were almost in danger of becoming too brainy and obscure for their own good by the end of the ’70s, but the band would rein in their pretensions with tighter songwriting in the albums that would follow.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
There’s no pretension or judgment here, but nearly everything is pleasing to the eye.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
Even Saanen’s most renowned, high-end establishments remain low-key and devoid of pretension, like 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT, credited by Michelin as Bib Gourmand for an experience and culinary offering that is both high quality and good value.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension
Noun
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Getting this messaging right was crucial for Guster.—
Ryan Miller,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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Within about half the gulf, the U.S. has sovereign rights for exploring, managing natural resources and jurisdiction, as international law allows, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.—
Mark Strassmann,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Most are due to unnecessary escalation, creating disengagement, authoritative behaviors, arrogance and ego.—
Joao Mendes-Roter,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Musk’s casual Friday attire just shows his arrogance and disrespect for American government.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Ivy-as-Marilyn is an inconsiderate, amphetamine guzzling faux-intellectual whose devotion to the acting craft is presented as a vainglorious affectation.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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The interaction between Briony and Jamie starts off amiably, with Jamie needling Briony for her posh affectations.—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The name’s ironic on purpose—the app allows users to create, send, and receive anonymous voice messages in a celebrity’s tone.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.—
Dr. Ronald Premuroso,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The hypocrisies of what might be called humanity’s delusions of superiority suggest the need for deeper questioning.—
Billy J. Stratton,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2025
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His superiority was self-evident, like the rays of the sun.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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What To Know According to court documents reviewed by NewsNation, Piccolo is accused of driving up to a woman in Manatee County, stopping his vehicle under the pretense of asking for directions and then exposing himself.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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Moore befriended Shakespeare in 2008 under the pretense of writing a book about him, but the project never materialized.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With 16 goals and five assists in 32 games, Bryan Mbeumo might already be in your ‘joy to watch’ list.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The seventh-place Lions are only below Chelsea on goal differential and have just a one-point deficit with Manchester City for the final Champions League spot.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Another good idea before kicking off an exercise routine: For activities that involve spinal twisting and bending, talk with your physical therapist to get tips on proper form.—
Alice Oglethorpe,
SELF,
17 Apr. 2025
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The basic idea is to start with something large and compact it down for easy transport.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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