¹pretension

noun pre·ten·sion \pri-ˈten(t)-shən\

: the unpleasant quality of people who think of themselves as more impressive, successful, or important than they really are

: a desire to do something or a claim to be something that is impressive or important

Full Definition of PRETENSION

: an allegation of doubtful value : pretext

: a claim or an effort to establish a claim

: a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit

: an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment <has serious literary pretensions>

: vanity, pretentiousness

— pre·ten·sion·less \-ləs\ adjective

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First Known Use of PRETENSION

15th century

Related to PRETENSION

Synonyms: call, dibs, pretense (or pretence), claim, right

Antonyms: humility, modesty, unassumingness, unpretentiousness

Synonym Discussion of PRETENSION

ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement. ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire <driven by ambition>. aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself <an aspiration to become president someday>. pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption <has literary pretensions>.