pretensions

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.

Mr. Schlossberg’s campaign displays aristocratic pretensions that fit uneasily into this new politics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

In 1956, shortly before his death, Mencken went even further; “American journalism is predominantly paltry and worthless. Its pretensions are enormous, but its achievements are insignificant.”

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2025

However, Wales will relish the chance to stick a spanner in the spokes and puncture such title pretensions.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2025

It’s a superficial film about a superficial world and, like its protagonist, it’s got no pretensions of anything more.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2024

Ned had last seen the king nine years before during Balon Greyjoy's rebel-lion, when the stag and the direwolf had joined to end the pretensions of the self-proclaimed King of the Iron Is-lands.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin