pretension

1 of 2

noun

pre·​ten·​sion pri-ˈten(t)-shən How to pronounce pretension (audio)
Synonyms of pretension
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 How to pronounce pretension (audio)
adjective

pretension

2 of 2

verb

pre·​ten·​sion ˌprē-ˈten(t)-shən How to pronounce pretension (audio)
pretensioned; pretensioning; pretensions

transitive verb

: prestress

Synonyms of pretension

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for pretension

ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement.

ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
To adore the literary greats but reject any modicum of pretension? — Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 The place, a rental, is furnished without pretension—cushy sectional, vintage Tabasco poster, board games. — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 The family described Turner as someone known for his humor, loyalty and lack of pretension despite his fame and wealth. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 6 May 2026 Impartial, fact-finding and without pretension, Burns turns his camera to our history in a sober-but-not-boring manner. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pretension

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin praetensiōn-, praetensiō "action of pretending, deceiving" (Medieval Latin, "allegation, assertion"), from Latin praetendere "to hold or stretch out, put forward as a pretext" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at pretend entry 1

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretension was in the 15th century

Rhymes for pretension

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Browse Nearby Words

pretenseless
pretension
pretensioner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pretension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretension. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pretension

noun
pre·​ten·​sion
pri-ˈten-chən
1
: pretense sense 1
2
: something one hopes to reach : aspiration, ambition
has serious pretensions as a writer
3
: pretense sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on pretension

Nglish: Translation of pretension for Spanish Speakers

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