1
as in right
an entitlement to something
a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Service feels attentive without formality or pretension.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Electric Bleu is a testament to the reality that food can be technically precise and expertly executed, without the pretension and toxicity so often associated with fine dining kitchens.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
There’s no phoniness, no pretension.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The house did not have a European or East Coast seriousness, but rather a Californian dimension rooted in casualness, improvisation, and lack of pretension.
—Rem Koolhaas, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Electric Bleu is a testament to the reality that food can be technically precise and expertly executed, without the pretension and toxicity so often associated with fine dining kitchens.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
There’s no phoniness, no pretension.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The house did not have a European or East Coast seriousness, but rather a Californian dimension rooted in casualness, improvisation, and lack of pretension.
—Rem Koolhaas, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension
Noun
-
Pride Month kicks off nationwide with parades from major metros to small towns, blending rainbow celebration with protest roots as LGBTQ+ communities face renewed political attacks on rights and inclusion.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
Swierc and the American Civil Liberties Union sued Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns last September in federal court, claiming her firing was a violation of her First Amendment rights.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The problem is that without Humility, confidence easily becomes arrogance, decisiveness becomes impulsive, and expertise becomes a barrier to learning.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
In Polis’ case, so does arrogance.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The elder Taylor exuded the easy-going charm of a music legend who is free of any airs or affectations.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My novel is about that sea-change and the search for purpose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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While there is nothing particularly Jordanian about the design, the interiors serve multiple purposes for visiting business travelers and tourists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
There was no justification for the claim Rochelle Walensky made about masking.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Sergei Shoigu, Russia's former defense minister and now secretary of its Security Council, also rejected Zelenskyy’s claim, describing it as a scare tactic to attract more Western aid for Kyiv.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Ryan Tintner, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s space superiority systems division, said the company is combining advanced missile defense technologies with commercial-sector partnerships to support Golden Dome priorities.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
-
The threshold for superiority has shape-shifted throughout NBA history.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Meyers have all but abandoned any pretense of comedy in favor of yet another lecture on their ideological preferences.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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That had long been the perception behind the scenes and, once Newcastle’s Champions League exit was sealed at the Camp Nou in March, any public pretence to the contrary evaporated.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Their goal is to preserve the intimate essence of Cap Rocat for its guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Best of luck accomplishing your goals today, and, of course, do keep in touch.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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