pretentious

[ pri-ten-shuhs ]

adjective

1. characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved:

   a pretentious, self-important waiter.

   Synonyms: pompous

2. making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

   Synonyms: showy

3. full of pretense or pretension; having no factual basis; false.

pretentious

/ prɪˈtɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly
2. having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious

Derived Forms

• preˈtentiously, adverb
• preˈtentiousness, noun

Other Words From

• pre·tentious·ly adverb
• pre·tentious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretentious¹

First recorded in 1835–45; earlier pretensious; equivalent to pretense + -ious

Synonym Study

See bombastic. See grandiose.

Example Sentences

At first, the girls are only in danger of being forced to listen to one man’s extremely pretentious opinions about religion, philosophy, culture and, yes, pop music, which is terrifying in itself.

From Los Angeles Times

How many ways can I say . . . in my thick, pretentious l’accent francais?

From Salon

And so I always tried to get, like, very pretentious wine talk into the show, and that never made the cut.

From Salon

I actually do love wine, and I think I find wine very funny when people are pretentious about it.

From Salon

It can come off a little pretentious, with its Roman numeral “chapter” titles, nervous zoom shots and ponderous voice-overs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arty
• exaggerated
• grandiose
• hollow
• overblown
• pompous
• showy
• stilted
• turgid