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pretentiousness

[/prɪˈtenʃəsnəs/]
nounfeminine
pretensão
1. The quality of claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit unjustifiably; affectation or ostentatious behavior
The pretentiousness of the art critic was evident in every review he wrote.
A pretensão do crítico de arte era evidente em cada crítica que ele escrevia.
2. An attempt to impress others by affecting an attitude of greater importance, culture, or wealth than one actually possesses
Her pretentiousness about her designer clothes annoyed everyone at the party.
Sua pretensão quanto às roupas de grife a tornava antipática em qualquer reunião.
NYC Slang
bougie; putting on airs
Synonyms
affectationpomposityostentationarroganceconceitednesssnobbery
Antonyms
humilitymodestyunpretentiousnesssincerityauthenticity

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pretensão
most common term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
pretensão; ousadia
occasionally combined with ousadia for emphasis
São Paulo
pretensão; falsa modéstia
sometimes paired with falsa modéstia
Portugal
pretenção; afectação
also uses afectação for affected pretentiousness

Related Idioms & Phrases

to put on airs
to wear one's heart on one's sleeve
high and mighty
estar cheio de pretensões (to be full of pretensions)
fingir ser o que não é (to pretend to be what one is not)
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