Definitions

pretentious

[pri-ten-shuhs] / prɪˈtɛn ʃəs /

ADJECTIVE

snobbish, conceited

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arty exaggerated grandiose hollow overblown pompous showy stilted turgid

STRONG

ostentatious

WEAK

affected assuming aureate big bombastic chichi conspicuous euphuistic extravagant feigned flamboyant flashy flaunting flowery gaudy grandiloquent high-flown high-sounding highfalutin imposing inflated jazzy la-di-da lofty magniloquent mincing ornate overambitious puffed up put on rhetorical specious splashy swank too-too tumid utopian vainglorious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

genuine honest moderate modest plain simple

WEAK

humble unconceited

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.

For whatever it’s worth, it may sound pretentious, but I kind of feel it’s important to try and anchor myself in some sense of purpose.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

The 22-year-old from Fife accepts that sometimes black and white shoots can feel "pretentious and tacky", but from watching the trailer, Spider-Noir feels different.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

While the nation’s capital is filled with pretentious individuals who love to inhale their own fumes, the Oscars this ain’t.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

If I really want to sound pretentious, I’d call the Super Bowl the final fireplace of the digital era, with a live audience that dwarfs every other show in the U.S., even Bluey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Respectable people do not become painters: only overblown, pretentious, theatrical people.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

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