What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretensional
Example
He always talks about his expensive taste in wine, but it's just pretensional. [pretensional: adjective]
Example
She made a pretensional display of her knowledge of art, but it was clear she didn't know much. [pretensional: adjective]
ostentatious
Example
The millionaire's ostentatious display of his wealth included a fleet of luxury cars and a mansion. [ostentatious: adjective]
Example
She wore an ostentatious diamond necklace to the party to show off her wealth. [ostentatious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ostentatious is more commonly used than pretensional in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretensional and ostentatious?
Both words are generally considered formal and are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, ostentatious is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while pretensional is less common and may be more appropriate in formal writing or speech.
