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Pompous vs Pretense - What's the difference?

pompous | pretense |

As an adjective pompous

is affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.

As a noun pretense is

(us) a false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.

pompous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.
  • * 1848, , Bantam Classics (1997), 16:
    • "Not that the parting speech caused Amelia to philosophise, or that it armed her in any way with a calmness, the result of argument; but it was intolerably dull, pompous , and tedious; and having the fear of her schoolmistress greatly before her eyes, Miss Sedley did not venture, in her presence, to give way to any ebullitions of private grief."

    Synonyms

    * conceited * smug * See also

    Antonyms

    * humble * modest * self-effacing

    Related terms

    * pomp * pomposity * pompously

    External links

    * * *

    pretense

    English

    Alternative forms

    * pretence (Only correct spelling in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and historical use in the United States) * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US) A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.
  • Intention or purpose not real but professed.
    • with only a pretense of accuracy
  • An unsupported claim made or implied.
  • An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

    • Synonyms

    * affectation denotes deception for the sake of escape from punishment or an awkward situation * false pretense * fiction * imitation * pretext * sham * subterfuge * See also

    Related terms

    * pretend * pretender * pretension * pretentious * pretentiousness

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * *