pretension
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.
See Examples For:
The movie became a reference by which the absurdities of real-life rock ’n’ roll pretension would forever be measured.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025
Total self-assurance is exactly how Sonny, like Pitt, gets away with his pretension.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2025
There was a baby-knit culotte and matching polo with Gucci stripe detailing, worn without pretension.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2023
But embedded in such restrictions one may infer either a resistance to having his work pushed to the fringes, or a pretension in contextualizing it as a mainstream experience.
From New York Times ● Aug. 7, 2023
A. without a single pretension to the character of a soldier, a perfect Quixote as a statesman.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
His competitors got away with all kinds of mystical pretensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
“Peck & Peck” is Bonnie Garmus’ whimsical and winning ode to the written word, and send-up of the pretensions of its gatekeepers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
He is also a deft social satirist, no more so than when skewering his characters’ politically correct pretensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
In Britain, the “angry young men” movement led by John Osborne in the theater was underway, and the social pretensions and expertly crafted witticisms of Coward’s comedies had fallen out of fashion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
“And you call yourself an artist! What pretensions, Madame! The artist must possess the courageous soul that dares and defies.”
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
Vocabulary lists containing pretension
Common Sense
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Pygmalion
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The 57 Bus
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a word