pretension
1 of 2noun
pre·ten·sion pri-ˈten(t)-shən 
1
: an allegation of doubtful value : pretext
2
: a claim or an effort to establish a claim
3
: a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit
4
: an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment
has serious literary pretensions
5
: vanity, pretentiousness
pretensionless
pri-ˈten(t)-shən-ləs
adjective pretension
2 of 2verb
pre·ten·sion ˌprē-ˈten(t)-shən
pretensioned; pretensioning; pretensions
transitive verb
: prestress
Synonyms
Noun
- call
- claim
- dibs
- pretense
- pretence
- right
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He spoke about his achievements without pretension. I admire his honesty and lack of pretension. The restaurant offers excellent food without pretension.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ian Malone, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2022 Locals in Seulo scoffed at the pretension of Perdasdefogu to the geriatric throne. Jason Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 Locals in Seulo scoffed at the pretension of Perdasdefogu to the geriatric throne. New York Times, 13 July 2022 The pretension of wine culture leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Taylor Mims, Billboard, 2 June 2022 Rather, his chief pastime involves projecting a constant stream of pretension and scorn. Natalia Winkelman, BostonGlobe.com, 29 June 2022 Brilliantly impressionistic at times, the series can also veer into bombast and pretension quicker than its lead character can score some drugs at a high school party. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 17 May 2022 The stylish show is choreographed, as the title would demand, but without pretension. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2022 Maybe there is simply not enough pretension in the world. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 May 2022 See More
Noun
This lack of pretension is evident from the entrance, which is almost unmarked and easily missed. Ian Malone, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2022 Locals in Seulo scoffed at the pretension of Perdasdefogu to the geriatric throne. Jason Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 Locals in Seulo scoffed at the pretension of Perdasdefogu to the geriatric throne. New York Times, 13 July 2022 The pretension of wine culture leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Taylor Mims, Billboard, 2 June 2022 Rather, his chief pastime involves projecting a constant stream of pretension and scorn. Natalia Winkelman, BostonGlobe.com, 29 June 2022 Brilliantly impressionistic at times, the series can also veer into bombast and pretension quicker than its lead character can score some drugs at a high school party. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 17 May 2022 The stylish show is choreographed, as the title would demand, but without pretension. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2022 Maybe there is simply not enough pretension in the world. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
pre- + tension entry 2
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1936, in the meaning defined above
pretensions
noun
1
as in rights
an entitlement to something a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rights
- pretenses
- claims
- pretences
- prerogatives
- titles
- dibs
- calls
- privileges
- refusals
- birthrights
- favors
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disclaimers
- waivers
- releases
- quitclaims
2
as in ambitions
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish has serious pretensions of becoming a writer Synonyms & Similar Words
- ambitions
- goals
- purposes
- intentions
- plans
- aims
- ideas
- objectives
- aspirations
- objects
- dreams
- intents
- things
- ideals
- meanings
- designs
- targets
- bourns
- points
- hopes
- marks
- ends
- bournes
- desires
- projects
- wishes
- schemes
- minds
- plots
- holy grails
- destinations
- grails
- nirvanas
- termini
- terminuses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- means
- methods
- ways
- heterodyning
- heteroecious
- heteroecism
- heteroecismal
- heteroecisms
- heterofertilization
- heterogamete
- heterogametes
- heterogametic
- heterogameties
- heterogametism
- heterogamety
- heterogamies
- heterogamous
- heterogamy
- heterogangliate
- heterogen
- heterogene
- heterogeneal
- heterogeneities
- heterogeneity
- heterogeneous
- heterogeneous ray
- heterogeneously
- heterogeneousness