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Pretentious vs Narcissistic - What's the difference?

pretentious | narcissistic |

As adjectives the difference between pretentious and narcissistic

is that pretentious is marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction while narcissistic is having an inflated idea of one's own importance.

As a noun narcissistic is

a narcissist.

pretentious

English

Alternative forms

*

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.
    • Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.
  • Ostentatious; intended to impress others.
    • Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.

    Synonyms

    * poseur * See also

    Antonyms

    * unpretentious

    Derived terms

    * pretentiously * pretentiousness

    Related terms

    * pretend * pretender * pretense * pretension

    References

    * * *

    narcissistic

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having an inflated idea of one's own importance.
  • Obsessed with one's own self image and ego.

    • Related terms

    * narcissism * narcissistic personality disorder

    Antonyms

    *nonnarcissistic

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A narcissist.
  • * 1996 , Susan B. Gall, Bernard Beins, Alan Feldman, The Gale encyclopedia of psychology (page 247)
    • Because narcissistics cannot handle failure, they will take great lengths to avoid risks and situations in which defeat is a possibility.