Pretentiousness: meaning, definitions and examples
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pretentiousness
[ prɪˈtɛnʃəsnəs ]
in behavior
The quality of being pretentious; pretending to be more important or more intelligent than one really is. It involves an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a desire to impress others.
Synonyms
arrogance, haughtiness, pretension, snobbery
Examples of usage
- She was criticized for her pretentiousness and snobbish behavior.
- His constant name-dropping only served to highlight his pretentiousness.
- The author's pretentiousness was evident in his overly complex writing style.
in speech
Behavior or speech that is intended to impress others and make oneself seem more important or intelligent. It often involves a display of knowledge or sophistication that is not genuine.
Synonyms
affectedness, airs, grandiosity, ostentation
Examples of usage
- Her pretentiousness was evident in the way she spoke about topics she knew nothing about.
- The pretentiousness of his speech made it difficult to take him seriously.
- Impressing others with his knowledge was a clear sign of his pretentiousness.
Translations
Translations of the word "pretentiousness" in other languages:
🇵🇹 pretensão
🇮🇳 दिखावा
🇩🇪 Anmaßung
🇮🇩 kepura-puraan
🇺🇦 претензійність
🇵🇱 pretensjonalność
🇯🇵 気取り
🇫🇷 prétention
🇪🇸 pretensión
🇹🇷 gösteriş
🇰🇷 잘난 체함
🇸🇦 تظاهر
🇨🇿 domýšlivost
🇸🇰 domýšľavosť
🇨🇳 自命不凡
🇸🇮 domišljavost
🇮🇸 drambsemi
🇰🇿 өзін-өзі көрсету
🇬🇪 პრეტენზიულობა
🇦🇿 özünü bəyənmə
🇲🇽 pretensión
Word origin
The word 'pretentiousness' originates from the late 19th century, derived from the French word 'prétentieux.' It gained popularity in English literature as a term to describe behavior or speech that is intended to impress others falsely. The negative connotation of the word highlights the societal disdain for individuals who try to appear more important or knowledgeable than they truly are.
See also: pretentiously, unpretentious, unpretentiously, unpretentiousness.