adj
Uncommon
pretentious
prih-TEHN-shuhs
Pretentious (adj) means trying too hard to seem impressive, intelligent, or important, in a way that comes across as fake or overblown. Example: “The restaurant's menu was full of pretentious descriptions for simple dishes.”
adj
1
Trying too hard to seem impressive, intelligent, or important, in a way that comes across as fake or overblown.
"The restaurant's menu was full of pretentious descriptions for simple dishes."
"He came across as pretentious, dropping French phrases into every sentence."
How to use pretentious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShowing off in a way meant to look sophisticated but that actually feels forced or fake.
Common pairings
pretentious nonsense
sound pretentious
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more pretentious
- Superlative
- most pretentious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The restaurant's menu was full of _____ descriptions for simple dishes.
Etymology
From French prétentieux, ultimately from Latin praetendere ("to put forward, to claim"). Note the spelling with "t" rather than "s", unlike the related word "pretense".
Synonyms
View more →
highfalutin
affected
effete
fey
recherché
overrefined
hoity-toity
pansified
precious
smug
stagy
stilted
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pretentious
See all rhymes for pretentious →Frequently asked questions
What does “pretentious” mean?
The word “pretentious” means trying too hard to seem impressive, intelligent, or important, in a way that comes across as fake or overblown. In plain terms, showing off in a way meant to look sophisticated but that actually feels forced or fake.
How do you pronounce “pretentious”?
“Pretentious” is pronounced prih-TEHN-shuhs (/pɹɪˈtɛn.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “pretentious” in a sentence?
Here is “pretentious” used in a sentence: “The restaurant's menu was full of pretentious descriptions for simple dishes.”
What is another word for “pretentious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pretentious” include highfalutin, affected, effete, fey, recherché and overrefined.
What is the opposite of “pretentious”?
The opposite of “pretentious” — its antonyms — are unpretentious, humble, modest, demure and formal.
What part of speech is “pretentious”?
“Pretentious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “pretentious” come from?
The word “pretentious” comes from Latin. From French prétentieux, ultimately from Latin praetendere ("to put forward, to claim"). Note the spelling with "t" rather than "s", unlike the related word "pretense".
Is “pretentious” a common word?
“Pretentious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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