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pretentious Definition

pre·ten·tious (prē tens̸həs, pri-)

adjective

  1. making claims, explicit or implicit, to some distinction, importance, dignity, or excellence
  2. affectedly grand; ostentatious

Etymology: Fr prétentieux < prétention, pretension + -eux, -ous

pretentious Related Forms
pre·ten·tiously adverb pre·ten·tious·ness noun
pretentious Synonyms

pretentious

modif.

gaudy, ostentatious, conspicuous; see affected 2, ornate 1, pompous.

pretentious Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • say: Does it sound pretentious to say that her work appears to utilize intelligence as a sixth sense?

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: Some armigers are reluctant to use their heraldry as they feel that to do so may seem somewhat pretentious.
  • rather: Not much sense can be made from this rather pretentious offering.
  • too: Paul tries not to sound too pretentious whilst writing about himself in the third person.
  • slightly: Moda Virginia Street Esthetically pleasing if slightly pretentious bar.
  • extremely: Ian Anderson's voice is so grating, growling his extremely pretentious lyrics.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • sound: I guess I was worried the truth might sound a bit pretentious, silly, or implausible.

Modifies a noun

  • twaddle: At the end, the woman sitting next to me muttered: " Pretentious twaddle.
  • bollock: What complete, and utter, pretentious bollocks, which doesn't say anything, let alone mean anything.
  • nonsense: An analysis of war reporting -- or pretentious nonsense?
  • jargon: He didn't adopt the Ashkenazi's pretentious jargon.
  • title: And not just with the length or overtly pretentious title.
  • piece: Wouldn't we all do it, money for a very pretentious, very pseudo piece of refined old rope.

Used with adjective complement

  • sound: Paul tries not to sound too pretentious whilst writing about himself in the third person.
  • seem: The dialog is poor, the whole movie just seems far too pretentious for me!
  • get: But that's me getting pretentious ( or absurd?
  • become: The religious undertones throughout the film can become quite pretentious.
  • appear: Giving the film real depth rather than appearing pretentious.
  • look: For a smaller group, I think a conductor looks pretentious!

Browse dictionary entries near pretentious

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