unpretentious

adjective

ˌən-pri-ˈten(t)-shəs How to pronounce unpretentious (audio)
Definition of unpretentiousnext
1
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South

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2
as in quiet
not excessively showy lives in a rather unpretentious house for someone so wealthy

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3
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness the unpretentious disposition of an award-winning scientist who has nothing to prove to anyone

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unpretentious Gracious yet unpretentious, the kitchen serves up plenty of sushi and rolls, but also renders some surprisingly fun takes on dishes common to other menus. — Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025 The restaurant is defiantly unpretentious, with a cozy, friendly atmosphere. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025 As noted above, the cheeseburger represents the kind of simple, unpretentious cuisine for which many Americans are nostalgic. — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 1 Feb. 2025 This doesn't include all of Charlotte's unpretentious establishments — just some of the greatest. — Alexandria Sands, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for unpretentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretentious
  1. unaffected
  2. quiet
  3. humble
  4. genuine
  5. muted
  6. meek
  7. simple
  8. subdued
Adjective
  • Students whose tests began no later than 8:36 a.m. with standard timing (2 hours and 24 minutes) would have completed their exams before the 11:00 a.m. cutoff and thus were unaffected.
    — Scott White, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that critical safety positions were unaffected.
    — Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of unaffected
Adjective
  • After a period of quiet, Adultery is Poison Pen’s debut commission.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Your views might be climbing, but your inbox stays quiet.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Assuming every other factor is the same, a bigger home with high-end materials will almost always cost more than one with a smaller floor plan and more humble finishes.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Some come from humble backgrounds, and modeling is something that totally changes their lives.
    — Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of humble
Adjective
  • The Substack offers an unfiltered, genuine take on navigating the marketplace, from the highs of scoring a rare vintage gem to the lows of watching the dream item go out of stock.
    — Gaby Keiderling, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Leaders must cultivate new skills to recognize complexity, evaluate situations accurately, and respond with genuine agility rather than default behaviors.
    — Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • Hadid’s makeup included softer elements, like faint brows and a muted lip to accentuate her look.
    — Julia Teti, WWD, 14 Mar. 2025
  • However, the muted consumer and producer price reports for February might not necessarily be good news for the U.S. Federal Reserve.
    — Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of muted
Adjective
  • The character, who started as a seemingly meek Secret Service agent of questionable talent, turned out to be a highly skilled assassin of questionable sanity.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Less impressive was the following game, a meek 0-1 loss to West Ham United, which ended the quest for a Premier League title and renewed the striker debate like never before.
    — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of meek
Adjective
  • All of this is a vaguely long-winded way of making a simple point — the outlook for Wolves’ defence has changed dramatically over the course of this season.
    — Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Combining crisp water, sun-dappled shade, and the simple pleasure of drifting with the current creates the perfect recipe for vacation memories.
    — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Skewing your green selections toward a more earthy aesthetic will help set a more subdued tone that helps enhance your room’s overall design rather than trying to steal the show.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Last year, Marina traded the glitz and glam of her pop persona for the more subdued reflections of a poet.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of subdued

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Cite this Entry

“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretentious. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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