unpretentious — not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌʌnprɪˈtenʃəs/
Example Sentences
- The billionaire CEO surprised everyone by driving an unpretentious old Toyota to the company party.
- Her unpretentious cooking style focuses on simple, fresh ingredients rather than fancy presentation.
- The famous actor was refreshingly unpretentious, chatting with fans while waiting in line at a fast-food restaurant.
unpretentious
ADJECTIVE[/ˌʌnprɪˈtenʃəs/]
not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed
His unpretentious home welcomes guests with warm tea and worn wooden chairs.
While others grow contentious, she stays conscientious and unpretentious
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From the prefix 'un-' (not) combined with 'pretentious,' which derives from the Latin 'praetendere' meaning 'to stretch forth' or 'to claim falsely,' itself from 'prae-' (before) and 'tendere' (to stretch).
Breakdown
un- (not) + pretentious (from Latin praetendere: prae- (before) + tendere (to stretch) + -ious (adjective suffix)) = unpretentious (not making false claims of importance)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The billionaire CEO surprised everyone by driving an unpretentious old Toyota to the company party.”
“Her unpretentious cooking style focuses on simple, fresh ingredients rather than fancy presentation.”
“The famous actor was refreshingly unpretentious, chatting with fans while waiting in line at a fast-food restaurant.”
“I love this unpretentious café where you can sit for hours without feeling pressured to order expensive items.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.