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Pretentious vs Snob - What's the difference?

pretentious | snob |

As an adjective pretentious

is marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

As a noun snob is

.

pretentious

English

Alternative forms

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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

    References

    * * *

    snob

    English

    Noun

    (en noun) (wikipedia snob)
  • (colloquial) A cobbler or shoemaker.
  • * 1929 , (Frederic Manning), The Middle Parts of Fortune , Vintage 2014, p. 57:
  • The snobs were also kind to him, and gave him a pair of boots which they assured him were of a type and quality reserved entirely for officers […].
  • (dated) A member of the lower classes; a commoner.
  • * 1844 , (Charles Dickens), Martin Chuzzlewit :
  • 'D'ye know a slap-up sort of button, when you see it?' said the youth. 'Don't look at mine, if you ain't a judge, because these lions' heads was made for men of men of taste: not snobs .'
  • * 1913 , (Arthur Conan Doyle), The Poison Belt :
  • I tell you, sir, that I have a brain of my own, and that I should feel myself to be a snob and a slave if I did not use it.
  • (informal) A person who wishes to be seen as a member of the upper classes and who looks down on those perceived to have inferior or unrefined tastes.
  • * 1958 , (Arnold Wesker), Roots :
  • If wanting the best things in life means being a snob' then glory hallelujah I'm a ' snob .

    Derived terms

    * snobbery * snobbish * snobby

    Coordinate terms

    * posh * social climber

    Anagrams

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