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
The restaurant's elegant interior, with its high ceilings and classic décor, creates an atmosphere of refined sophistication without pretension—the ideal setting to contemplate the driving adventures that await.
—
Shelby Knick, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Instead of Jimmy Kimmel, a memorable host in the recent past with a keen appreciation for puncturing pretensions, there is Conan O’Brien who, while familiar, remains an unknown quantity in how politically barbed his opening monologue might be.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Shelby Knick, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Instead of Jimmy Kimmel, a memorable host in the recent past with a keen appreciation for puncturing pretensions, there is Conan O’Brien who, while familiar, remains an unknown quantity in how politically barbed his opening monologue might be.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension
Noun
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On issues ranging from education policy and voting rights to congestion pricing, the series of rulings and developments marked the latest legal setbacks for an administration battling nearly 200 lawsuits in court.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2025
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Though the agency is prohibited from censorship or infringing the First Amendment rights of media, broadcasters cannot intentionally distort the news.—
Dawn Chmielewski,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Solskjaer felt that overconfidence bordering on arrogance might be PSG’s Achilles’ heel.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Titan: Plunges into the chilling 2023 submersible tragedy, peeling back the layers of ambition, arrogance, and a lack of oversight that led to catastrophe.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 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
-
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
-
Each edge of this triangle-esque tool serves a unique purpose: a smooth, long side for sweeping over wider areas like calves, arms, and thighs; a precision tip for targeted acupressure; and a ridged edge for digging into tense tissue.—
Allure,
Allure,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States enjoyed a margin of superiority that would have been unimaginable to earlier great powers.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Will this Lucid’s obvious superiority from a rational perspective be able to offset the minivan-esque styling?—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The key to success is finding the best glycolic acid formula for your skin’s needs and goals, which includes figuring out the right format and concentration of acid.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Apr. 2025
-
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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Deporting supposed gang members and Hamas supporters without due process may violate any number of statutes, but forcing oppositionists to defend these people’s rights allows the administration to paint them as defending their ideas.—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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