What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pompous
Example
The politician's pompous speech was met with eye-rolls from the audience. [pompous: adjective]
Example
The author's use of pompous language made the book difficult to read. [pompous: adjective]
pretentious
Example
The new coworker's pretentious attitude rubbed everyone the wrong way. [pretentious: adjective]
Example
The restaurant's pretentious decor didn't match the mediocre food. [pretentious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pretentious is more commonly used than pompous in everyday language. Pretentious is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pompous is less common and refers to a specific type of behavior or language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pompous and pretentious?
Both pompous and pretentious are associated with a negative connotation and are typically used in informal contexts. However, pompous may be used in more formal settings to criticize someone's language or behavior.
