pretensious

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Pretentious

Description:

Pretentious is an adjective that describes someone who tries to appear more important, intelligent, or cultured than they actually are. It refers to people, behaviors, or things that strive to create a false impression of superiority or sophistication.

In some contexts, the term can also be used to describe something that is showy or ostentatious, attempting to impress others with its perceived value or grandeur.

Sense 1: People

Usage:

- She always wore fashionable clothes and spoke with an affected accent, making everyone believe she was a pretentious socialite.

- The pretentious couple at the party spent the entire evening bragging about their luxury vacations.

- His pretentious behavior at the art gallery attracted both admiration and ridicule.

Sense 2: Behaviors

Usage:

- She rolled her eyes at her friend's pretentious attempt to impress the guests by using fancy culinary terms.

- The critic dismissed the film as pretentious due to its overly complicated plot and ambiguous symbolism.

- The author's extravagant use of flowery language in her novel was seen as pretentious by some readers.

Sense 3: Things

Usage:

- The mansion's ornate decorations and gilded furniture gave it a pretentious air.

- The extravagant and pretentious design of the sports car turned heads wherever it went.

- The restaurant's pretentious menu, written entirely in French, left some customers feeling alienated.