What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretensional
Example
Her writing style is often pretensional, but she manages to avoid being too overbearing. [pretensional: adjective]
Example
The restaurant's decor was pretensional, but the food was surprisingly good. [pretensional: adjective]
pretentious
Example
He always wears a suit and tie, even when he doesn't need to. It's so pretentious. [pretentious: adjective]
Example
She used big words she didn't understand just to sound smart. That's so pretentious. [pretentious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pretentious is a more commonly used word than pretensional in everyday language.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between pretensional and pretentious?
Pretensional is a more formal word than pretentious and is often used in academic or technical contexts.