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
pre·ten·sion
ˌprē-ˈten(t)-shən
pretensioned; pretensioning; pretensions
Examples of pretension in a Sentence
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
Chris Lee, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
The past month in Lebanon, like the past year in Gaza, has demonstrated that Israel’s leaders have no idealistic pretensions about establishing a new political order in Lebanon or in the Strip.
—Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
The chief theme, of course, is art itself, which wafts into pretension all too easily.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
The entire project seems more a realization of Guadagnino’s artistic pretensions than anything else.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretension 
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Noun
The upshot: a $190-million (some reports place the budget closer to $200 million) jukebox musical with seeming art-house pretensions whose odds of justifying its cost now seem remote.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
The past month in Lebanon, like the past year in Gaza, has demonstrated that Israel’s leaders have no idealistic pretensions about establishing a new political order in Lebanon or in the Strip.
—Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
The chief theme, of course, is art itself, which wafts into pretension all too easily.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
The entire project seems more a realization of Guadagnino’s artistic pretensions than anything else.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretension
Dictionary Entries Near pretension
Cite this Entry
“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretension. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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