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Pretentious vs Schmancy - What's the difference?

pretentious | schmancy |

As adjectives the difference between pretentious and schmancy

is that pretentious is marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction while schmancy is (informal|derogatory) fancy, especially in a contrived or pretentious fashion.

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

    * * *

    schmancy

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (informal, derogatory) Fancy, especially in a contrived or pretentious fashion.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2007, date=August 10, author=Lynn Harris, title=On the Roof, a Weaning From Weeding, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=But thanks to the charmless chunk of schmancy condos now going up on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue (the Champs Élysées of auto parts stores), the rooftop sunsets we savored in summers past were, it turns out, our last. }}

    Synonyms

    * fancy-schmancy