CEFR B1

pretentious

adjective

Meaning

Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed.

Examples

The restaurant was so pretentious, with its tiny portions and exorbitant prices.
She found his constant name-dropping and talk of exclusive clubs rather pretentious.

Synonyms: showy, ostentatious, pompous, grandiose

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pretentious (B1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /prɪˈten.ʃəs/

Definition

Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed.

Examples

The restaurant was so pretentious, with its tiny portions and exorbitant prices.
She found his constant name-dropping and talk of exclusive clubs rather pretentious.
The art critic dismissed the work as pretentious and lacking in genuine substance.

Synonyms of pretentious

Words with a similar meaning to pretentious:

Antonyms of pretentious

Words with the opposite meaning to pretentious:

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