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
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
Poland and its neighbors on Europe’s eastern tier have been vindicated in their warnings about Russian imperial pretensions and growing aggression.
—Daniel Fried, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for pretension 
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Noun
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
Poland and its neighbors on Europe’s eastern tier have been vindicated in their warnings about Russian imperial pretensions and growing aggression.
—Daniel Fried, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2023
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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