What does pretentious mean?

Definitions for pretentious
prɪˈtɛn ʃəspre·ten·tious

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pretentious.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pretentiousadjective

    making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction

    "a pretentious country house"; "a pretentious fraud"; "a pretentious scholarly edition"

  2. ostentatious, pretentiousadjective

    intended to attract notice and impress others

    "an ostentatious sable coat"

  3. ostentatious, pretentiousadjective

    (of a display) tawdry or vulgar

Wiktionary

  1. pretentiousadjective

    Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

    Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.

  2. pretentiousadjective

    Ostentatious; intended to impress others.

    Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.

  3. Etymology: From prétentieux, from prétention, from praetensus, past participle of praetendo.

ChatGPT

  1. pretentious

    Pretentious refers to an attempt to appear or sound more important or valuable than one is, especially by displaying excessive or undeserved knowledge or skill. It often involves the exaggerated or ostentatious display of wealth, culture, or lifestyle, often to gain admiration, respect or envy from others.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pretentiousadjective

    full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming

  2. Etymology: [Cf. F. prtentieux. See Pretend.]

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pretentious in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pretentious in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of pretentious in a Sentence

  1. This Is Spinal Tap:

    Marty This pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is enough to prompt the question, What day did the Lord create Spinal Tap, and couldn't he have rested on that day too'

  2. Stephanie Clifford:

    I think it’s a coincidence, i’m not pretentious enough to think she named her after me.

  3. Despair.com:

    The downside to being better than everyone is that people seem to think you are pretentious.

  4. John Romano:

    The smaller the understanding of the situation, the more pretentious the form of expression.

  5. Henri St. Germaine:

    I'm the guy you probably hate. Born in the States, educated in the UK and now living in Europe. Oh did I mention I'm self employed and travel a lot? And, no I'm not shallow or pretentious, those are just your own preconceived notions about me.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for pretentious

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"pretentious." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pretentious>.

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