pretentious
/prɪˈtɛnʃəs/Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, or sophistication than is justified; overly self-important or snobbish.
She wore a pretentious outfit to the party, thinking it would make her stand out.
Her outfit was overly elaborate and designed to appear more sophisticated than necessary.
The restaurant's pretentious menu used overly complex language to describe simple dishes.
The menu was unnecessarily fancy and used exaggerated descriptions for ordinary food.
Often used to criticize someone who acts as if they are more cultured, intelligent, or important than they actually are.
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Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Avoiding pretentiousness
Be genuine and avoid using overly complex language or behavior just to impress others.
⚡Gold Rule
Context matters
Pretentiousness is often judged by others, so be aware of how your words and actions come across.
📖Word Origin
From the Latin 'praetendere' meaning 'to stretch forward' or 'to claim', via the French 'prétendre' meaning 'to pretend'.
📝Usage Notes
The word is often used in a negative or critical way to describe someone who is trying too hard to appear sophisticated or important.