unpretentious
adjective
un·pre·ten·tious ˌən-pri-ˈten(t)-shəs 
: free from ostentation, elegance, or affectation : modest
unpretentious homes
an unpretentious celebrity
unpretentiously adverb
unpretentiousness noun
Synonyms
- artless
- genuine
- guileless
- honest
- ingenuous
- innocent
- naive
- naïve
- natural
- real
- simple
- sincere
- true
- unaffected
- unpretending
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a casual and unpretentious restaurant a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South
Recent Examples on the Web Local treasure The Chimney House is celebrating a decade of warm, unpretentious dining in a historic house in downtown Fort Lauderdale Friday through Sunday. 
Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 The sign perfectly encapsulates the deli’s past and present curiosities — creating an amusing, unpretentious atmosphere for Asian Americans and Oakland denizens. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2022 The show has always been an oasis of sorts, carrying a leisurely pace throughout the day and with an unpretentious air in the presentation of cars and even a few motorcycles that decorate the lawn. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2022 According to Thompson, there’s no reason why spicy rosé can’t be the next wave of unpretentious wine cocktail. Ella Quittner, Bon Appétit, 24 Aug. 2022 That excitement was earned when the first two films worked as high-quality, unpretentious kid-friendly entertainments. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 An unpretentious tapas menu was served, including Jamón Iberico with pan con tomates, Spanish cheeses and cod croquettes. Emma Elwick-bates, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2022 Dress up or dress down, Nobu is proof positive that great food, drink and service can be relaxed and unpretentious without compromising on quality. Duncan Madden, Forbes, 9 June 2022 Perry describes it as a cozy and unpretentious social environment that’s open to the public. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022 See More
Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 The sign perfectly encapsulates the deli’s past and present curiosities — creating an amusing, unpretentious atmosphere for Asian Americans and Oakland denizens. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2022 The show has always been an oasis of sorts, carrying a leisurely pace throughout the day and with an unpretentious air in the presentation of cars and even a few motorcycles that decorate the lawn. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2022 According to Thompson, there’s no reason why spicy rosé can’t be the next wave of unpretentious wine cocktail. Ella Quittner, Bon Appétit, 24 Aug. 2022 That excitement was earned when the first two films worked as high-quality, unpretentious kid-friendly entertainments. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 An unpretentious tapas menu was served, including Jamón Iberico with pan con tomates, Spanish cheeses and cod croquettes. Emma Elwick-bates, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2022 Dress up or dress down, Nobu is proof positive that great food, drink and service can be relaxed and unpretentious without compromising on quality. Duncan Madden, Forbes, 9 June 2022 Perry describes it as a cozy and unpretentious social environment that’s open to the public. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1838, in the meaning defined above
unpretentious
adjective
1
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unaffected
- genuine
- simple
- honest
- true
- innocent
- straightforward
- unpretending
- guileless
- naive
- artless
- sincere
- real
- spontaneous
- ingenuous
- natural
- inexperienced
- unsophisticated
- naïve
- candid
- childlike
- unworldly
- frank
- unstudied
- impressionable
- trustful
- plainspoken
- openhearted
- malleable
- unforced
- simpleminded
- plain
- open
- on the level
- direct
- persuadable
- trusting
- persuasible
- unguarded
- wide-eyed
- gee-whiz
- free
- straight
- gullible
- single-minded
- dewy-eyed
- free-spoken
- exploitable
- susceptible
- unwary
- gullable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pretentious
- artful
- critical
- artificial
- sophisticated
- cynical
- false
- assuming
- insincere
- dishonest
- suspicious
- skeptical
- phony
- worldly
- fake
- affected
- wary
- cosmopolitan
- mistrustful
- polished
- phoney
- civilized
- guileful
- cultured
- refined
- deceptive
- subtle
- shrewd
- hypocritical
- manipulative
- smooth
- cultivated
- deceitful
- sly
- devious
- cunning
- sharp
- dissembling
- dissimulating
- slick
- wily
- crooked
- tricky
- crafty
- worldly-wise
- unctuous
- slippery
- shifty
- flattering
- foxy
- sycophantic
- underhanded
- designing
- calculating
- scheming
- arch
- feigned
- canny
- strained
- knavish
- two-faced
- double-dealing
- forced
- mealymouthed
2
as in quiet
not excessively showy lives in a rather unpretentious house for someone so wealthy Synonyms & Similar Words
- quiet
- muted
- subdued
- understated
- simple
- unflashy
- restrained
- conservative
- low-key
- low-keyed
- proper
- modest
- appropriate
- sober
- repressed
- handsome
- fitting
- toned-down
- suitable
- unadorned
- unobtrusive
- graceful
- plain
- inconspicuous
- practical
- sensible
- tasteful
- unnoticeable
- fit
- becoming
- undecorated
- drab
- mousy
- refined
- mousey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loud
- flamboyant
- flashy
- ostentatious
- gaudy
- swanky
- noisy
- glitzy
- garish
- meretricious
- swank
- splashy
- tawdry
- vulgar
- inelegant
- trashy
- fancy
- tacky
- tasteless
- flaring
- graceless
- razzle-dazzle
- ornate
- baroque
- frilly
- gilded
- rococo
- overwrought
- gilt
- overdecorated
- overdone
3
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness the unpretentious disposition of an award-winning scientist who has nothing to prove to anyone Synonyms & Similar Words
- humble
- meek
- modest
- unassuming
- unaffected
- timid
- simple
- down-to-earth
- demure
- naive
- lowly
- quiet
- shy
- passive
- unassertive
- subdued
- deferential
- unaggressive
- unobtrusive
- compliant
- submissive
- acquiescent
- resigned
- ingenuous
- diffident
- reserved
- plain
- bashful
- yielding
- sheepish
- introverted
- cringing
- mousy
- naïve
- shrinking
- retiring
- cowering
- self-effacing
- self-deprecating
- aw-shucks
- self-deprecatory
- overmodest
- mousey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pretentious
- arrogant
- superior
- pompous
- supercilious
- haughty
- bumptious
- aggressive
- egotistical
- imperious
- presumptuous
- bold
- audacious
- impudent
- assertive
- confident
- peremptory
- uppish
- conceited
- cheeky
- egotistic
- highfalutin
- uppity
- saucy
- brassy
- brash
- hifalutin
- impertinent
- forward
- huffy
- overweening
- cocky
- lordly
- smug
- egocentric
- hubristic
- narcissistic
- overconfident
- cocksure
- presuming
- chesty
- egoistic
- prideful
- bombastic
- egoistical
- vainglorious
- fastuous
- self-assertive
- boastful
- hoity-toity
- vain
- disdainful
- huffish
- dominant
- toplofty
- showy
- high-and-mighty
- high-handed
- flamboyant
- self-asserting
- ostentatious
- patronizing
- condescending
- toploftical
- high-hat
- swaggering
- overbearing
- domineering
- self-confident
- uninhibited
- magisterial
- outgoing
- self-complacent
- self-important
- self-satisfied
- self-contented
- dominating
- unreserved
- immodest
- braggy
- extroverted
- self-engrossed
- stuck-up
- self-conceited
- self-congratulatory
- self-centered
- self-obsessed
- extraverted
- self-pleased
- self-affected
- swelled-headed
- pontificating
- transferable
- transferable vote
- transferal
- transferals
- transferase
- transferases
- transfered
- transferee
- transferees
- transference
- transference number
- transferences
- transferential
- transferor
- transferors
- transferotype
- transferrable
- transferrals
- transferred
- transferrer
- transferrers
- transferrible
- transferrin
- transferring
- transferring machine