pretentious
/prɪˈtɛnʃəs/Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed; showing off in an obnoxious way.
His pretentious speech about art made everyone roll their eyes.
She tried to impress the guests with her pretentious knowledge of wine.
Often used to describe someone who overestimates their own abilities or importance.
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💡Pro Tip
Avoiding pretentiousness
Be genuine in your actions and words. Confidence is attractive, but arrogance is not.
⚡Gold Rule
Usage in criticism
Use 'pretentious' to describe someone who is trying to appear more important or knowledgeable than they really are.
📖Word Origin
From the Latin 'praetendere' meaning 'to stretch forward' or 'to claim', via the French 'prétendre'.
📝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.