Pretentious
mediumNegative toneprih-TEN-shus
adjective
Definition
Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than actually possessed
Memory hook
PRE-TEND-tious: someone who PRETENDS to be more important than they are.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The pretentious restaurant served tiny portions on enormous plates.”
“His pretentious vocabulary alienated listeners.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ restaurant served tiny portions on enormous plates.”
Show answer
pretentious
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Pretentious is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "affected" or "ostentatious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "humble".
Related GRE Words
grandiose
Impressive or magnificent but often exaggerated or pretentious
pompous
Affectedly and irritatingly grand or self-important
vainglorious
Excessively proud of oneself or one's achievements; boastful
bombastic
High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated or pretentious language
flaunt
To display ostentatiously; to show off
grandiloquent
pompous or inflated in language; using lofty, bombastic speech
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