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pretension

[pri-ten-shuhn]

pretension Definition

  • 1the act of pretending or alleging falsehood
  • 2a claim or assertion of a claim to something
  • 3an aspiration or intention that may not be realized

Using pretension: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pretension" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    He had no pretensions to greatness.

  • Example

    The company's pretensions to quality were exposed as fraudulent.

  • Example

    Her pretensions to the throne were challenged by her rivals.

  • Example

    The film's pretensions to artistry were met with mixed reviews.

pretension Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for pretension

Phrases with pretension

  • drop one's pretensions

    to stop pretending to be someone or something that one is not

    Example

    After years of trying to impress others, he finally dropped his pretensions and started being himself.

  • pretensions to grandeur

    an exaggerated sense of self-importance or superiority

    Example

    Despite his humble background, he had pretensions to grandeur and acted as if he were royalty.

  • pretensions to knowledge

    an unfounded claim to expertise or understanding

    Example

    His pretensions to knowledge were quickly exposed when he was unable to answer basic questions about the subject.

Origins of pretension

from Latin 'praetensio', meaning 'a stretching forth'

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Summary: pretension in Brief

The term 'pretension' [pri-ten-shuhn] refers to the act of pretending or making false claims, as well as an aspiration or intention that may not be realized. It can be used to describe someone's exaggerated sense of self-importance, as in 'pretensions to grandeur,' or their unfounded claim to expertise, as in 'pretensions to knowledge.'