1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
has serious pretensions of becoming a writer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pretension
Even Saanen’s most renowned, high-end establishments remain low-key and devoid of pretension, like 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT, credited by Michelin as Bib Gourmand for an experience and culinary offering that is both high quality and good value.
—
Monica Mendal, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
This was the night that any pretensions over Arsenal possessing the requisite firepower to compete on four fronts were put to bed.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
There were no pretensions of showmanship, no displays of braggadocio — just the hollow ringing of palms on goatskin.
—Taran Dugal, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024
The car comes equipped with the standard sensor suite for cars with pretensions to urban autonomy: lidars on the roof and around the front bumper, and radar and cameras just about everywhere else.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Dec. 2016
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Monica Mendal, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
This was the night that any pretensions over Arsenal possessing the requisite firepower to compete on four fronts were put to bed.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
There were no pretensions of showmanship, no displays of braggadocio — just the hollow ringing of palms on goatskin.
—Taran Dugal, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024
The car comes equipped with the standard sensor suite for cars with pretensions to urban autonomy: lidars on the roof and around the front bumper, and radar and cameras just about everywhere else.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Dec. 2016
See All Example Sentences for pretension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretension
Noun
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Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.—
Terry Parris Jr.,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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Wrexham were vulnerable down their right over Christmas, with six out of seven goals coming from that area.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But what unfolded in the White House on Friday was a striking departure—an unprecedented display of hostility, arrogance, and political theater that raises serious concerns about America's global leadership.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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Reportedly, Tulip mastermind Charles Hegel (played with perfect measure of condescending arrogance by Josh Brener) has died in Kenya, and took with him all the necessary passwords needed to access the accounts of his many investors.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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From frame one, Bob Dylan, the creation, the idea, the trickster, the lone wolf, without attitude or affectation, your Dylan was no imitation.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
12 Feb. 2025
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In a transfixing performance that balances colorful affectation with raw hunger, the actor makes Lee a magnetic raconteur whose shield of worldly composure falls away as Eugene (Drew Starkey) eludes his grasp, leaving him a virtual ghost by the end of the film.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Kennedy also claimed the reason the children were hospitalized was for quarantine purposes.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2025
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The crucial difference from last season is his belief in his own abilities to alter events to his own purposes.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This condition is what philosopher Charles Mills, speaking of the American context, labeled epistemological ignorance—a deliberate unknowing, an insistence on the myth of white superiority, of white exceptionalism.—
Christine Winter,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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And so Tyla’s comments were also taken as an insinuation of superiority over Black people.—
Funmi Fetto,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington under the pretense of negotiating a peace deal.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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But in the media-state singularity, there is not even the pretense of space between the two worlds.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The overall goal here with the DOGE team is to help address the enormous deficit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2025
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Other scores: Bolles 20, Timber Creek 4 Girls Lacrosse Bartram Trail 12, Bishop Moore 6 Buzz: Lizzie Scalzo had a goal and an assist for the Hornets (5-3) while Sam Wilson had 13 saves at keeper.—
Buddy Collings,
Orlando Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
28 Feb. 2025
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The general idea is to use the wide lens to locate and select a subject from the expansive view, which the tele lens then zooms in on.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretension. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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