pretentious

comparative more pretentious · superlative most pretentious · alternative prætentious

1. Motivated by an inappropriate, excessive, or unjustified desire to impress others.

   Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.

   1 more example

   I recall the height of comfort attained by the green-cushioned "first" with starched white antimacassars and a pretentious grey floor mat on which it seemed a sacrilege to stand, as it was embellished with the North Western conception of Britannia, complete with trident.

   1951 October 28, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in Railway Magazine, pages 703–704

2. Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

   Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.

   1 more example

   The station (1840) was originally Cheltenham but the more grandiose Cheltenham Spa since 1925, which feels a bit pretentious as the town has never allowed itself to assume such airs and graces.

   2023 January 11, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: castles and cathedrals”, in RAIL, number 974, page 56

3. obsoleteperhaps incorrectMarked by pretense (not necessarily false pretense); intent upon success; ambitious.

   ... the first definite and pretentious attempt to make the wardrobe trunk a commercial possibility ... The new trunk would be exploited direct to the traveling public, and he had the means for a pretentious start.

   1917 January 28, “Season 1917”, in Trunks, Leather Goods, and Umbrellas, volume 39, number 1, page 54