unpretentious

adjective

un·​pre·​ten·​tious ˌən-pri-ˈten(t)-shəs How to pronounce unpretentious (audio)
Synonyms of unpretentiousnext
: free from ostentation, elegance, or affectation : modest
unpretentious homes
an unpretentious celebrity
unpretentiously adverb
unpretentiousness noun

Synonyms of unpretentious

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Examples of unpretentious in a Sentence

a casual and unpretentious restaurant a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Clad in a sleeveless bright green dress, Anderson, 57, radiates an ageless grace, undeniably sophisticated yet unpretentious in her demeanor. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 The downtown store regularly hosts Japanese tailors for trunk shows, and its unpretentious staff warmly guides customers through suits from a house line made by Ring Jacket. — New York Times, 31 July 2026 Few places exemplify the town’s unpretentious charm better than Gilhooley’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar. — Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 29 July 2026 Albany has also managed to cultivate a refreshingly unpretentious, small-town feel. — Barbara Noe Kennedy, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unpretentious

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpretentious was in 1838

Rhymes for unpretentious

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Browse Nearby Words

unpretending
unpretentious
unpretentiously
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Cite this Entry

“Unpretentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpretentious. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unpretentious

adjective
un·​pre·​ten·​tious ˌən-pri-ˈten-chəs How to pronounce unpretentious (audio)
: not pretentious : not showy : simple, modest
pleasant but unpretentious homes
unpretentiously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unpretentious

Nglish: Translation of unpretentious for Spanish Speakers

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