What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretentiousness
Example
He always uses big words to sound smart, but it just comes off as pretentious. [pretentious: adjective]
Example
Her pretentiousness was evident in the way she talked down to others and name-dropped constantly. [pretentiousness: noun]
grandiosity
Example
His grandiosity was evident in the way he talked about himself as if he were a king. [grandiosity: noun]
Example
She had a grandiose plan to take over the world, but it was clearly unrealistic. [grandiose: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pretentiousness is more commonly used than grandiosity in everyday language. Pretentiousness is a more versatile term that can be used in a variety of contexts, while grandiosity is more specific and often associated with clinical or psychological settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between pretentiousness and grandiosity?
Both pretentiousness and grandiosity are associated with a formal tone, but pretentiousness may be used in more informal settings as well, while grandiosity is typically reserved for more serious or clinical contexts.
