pretentious

/pri'tenʃəs/

Thân thiện

A man in a pretentious outfit stands at a gallery opening.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed: Characterized by an exaggerated show of importance or merit.
   • Making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious: Characterized by vulgar or tawdry display intended to attract notice.
   • Full of pretension; making often unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing): Creating an appearance of distinction or importance that is often undeserved.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • He used a lot of pretentious language to describe a simple idea. (He attempted to sound more intelligent than he was.)
  • The restaurant's menu was full of pretentious descriptions for basic dishes. (It made unjustified claims of sophistication.)
  • She found his art collection to be pretentious and showy. (It was intended to impress others in a vulgar way.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pretentious to": Often used with an infinitive to describe an unjustified claim or aspiration.
  • It is pretentious for a beginner to claim mastery of the subject. (The claim of mastery is undeserved.)
• Used to critique art, architecture, writing, or behavior that is seen as artificially deep or sophisticated.
  • The film was criticized for its pretentious dialogue and convoluted plot. (The dialogue tried and failed to be profound.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pretentiously (adverb): In a pretentious manner.
  • He spoke pretentiously about his "artistic process".
• Pretentiousness (noun): The quality of being pretentious.
  • The pretentiousness of the gallery opening was off-putting.

Synonyms

• Ostentatious: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display.
• Affected: Behaving in an artificial way to impress.
• Pompous: Affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important.
• Grandiose: Impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so.

Antonyms

• Unpretentious: Not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance.
• Modest: Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.
• Simple: Plain and uncomplicated in form or nature.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "All hat and no cattle" (Informal, chiefly US): An idiom describing someone who is pretentious, making boasts or claims not backed up by reality. While not containing the word "pretentious," it captures the same concept of false impressiveness.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. (of a display) tawdry or vulgar
2. intended to attract notice and impress others
   • an ostentatious sable coat
3. making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction
   • a pretentious country house
   • a pretentious fraud
   • a pretentious scholarly edition

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ostentatious