PRETENSION Synonyms: 185 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'pretension' different from other nouns like it?

The words ambition and aspiration are common synonyms of pretension . While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption. // has literary pretensions

Q: When would 'ambition' be a good substitute for 'pretension'?

The words ambition and pretension can be used in similar contexts, but ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire. // driven by ambition

Q: In what contexts can 'aspiration' take the place of 'pretension'?

While in some cases nearly identical to pretension , aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself. // an aspiration to become president someday

pretension

noun

pri-ˈten(t)-shən

Definition of pretension next

as in right

an entitlement to something a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary

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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

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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

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as in purpose

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish has serious pretensions of becoming a writer

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word pretension different from other nouns like it?

The words ambition and aspiration are common synonyms of pretension. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary pretensions

When would ambition be a good substitute for pretension?

The words ambition and pretension can be used in similar contexts, but ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

In what contexts can aspiration take the place of pretension?

While in some cases nearly identical to pretension, aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

Examples 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 pretension Yes, there’s a lot of cheap, pandering garbage, but that’s true on major streaming services, too, and Tubi has no pretensions to awards qualifications or pop-culture relevance. —

Josh Bell, Vulture, 27 June 2024 But if the West keeps its nerve, sanctions can help end Putin’s imperial pretensions once and for all. —

Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023 The upshot: a $190-million (some reports place the budget closer to $200 million) jukebox musical with seeming art-house pretensions whose odds of justifying its cost now seem remote. —

Chris Lee, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024 The past month in Lebanon, like the past year in Gaza, has demonstrated that Israel’s leaders have no idealistic pretensions about establishing a new political order in Lebanon or in the Strip. —

Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pretension

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension

Noun

But a square hole at bottom right reveals a middle-aged couple in the distance, dressed in dark business suits.

— E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
To get started, from the Kindle’s homepage tap the three dots in the top right, then Create a Collection.

— David Nield, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2025