Pretentious vs Pompous - What's the difference?
pretentious | pompous | Synonyms |
Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.
Ostentatious; intended to impress others.
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Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.
* 1848, , Bantam Classics (1997), 16:
As adjectives the difference between pretentious and pompous
is that pretentious is marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction while pompous is affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.pretentious
English
Alternative forms
*Adjective
(en adjective)- Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.
- Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.
Synonyms
* poseur * See alsoAntonyms
* unpretentiousDerived terms
* pretentiously * pretentiousnessReferences
pompous
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- "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."
