unpretending

adjective

ˌən-pri-ˈten-diŋ How to pronounce unpretending (audio)
Definition of unpretendingnext
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others an unpretending manner that makes her quite a winning performer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpretending
  1. genuine
  2. unaffected
  3. simple
  4. honest
  5. true
  6. innocent
  7. unpretentious
  8. sincere
Adjective
  • As such, the greatest obstacle to genuine transformation is getting stuck in the planning cycle.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Notably, the new action comes about a month after UMG had sued DistroKid in September, claiming the company has helped empower bad actors to upload AI slop songs at mass scale, diluting the royalty pool for genuine artists.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • Researchers have long wondered why some people develop these reactions while others seem to skate by unaffected.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Today, Putin follows essentially the same model, seeking to erode allies’ confidence in NATO’s Article 5 by relying on tactics that fall below the threshold of a conventional warfare and leave unaffected members hesitant to respond.
    — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of unaffected
Adjective
  • The best power pop is simple, direct, and memorable, in both words and sound.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The lack of close coordination between these simple details undermines the structure’s coherence and intent.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Jones turned in a yeoman's effort, going 22-35 for 155 passing yards and two touchdowns while also keeping the Longhorn defense honest with his legs.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In McDonnell, his supporters say, the mayor has an honest and principled leader who has managed to steady a department beset by low morale, dwindling staffing levels and aging facilities.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • An invite-only Rocket Variant replaces standard features with a single-seat configuration and perimeter thrusters for true flight, rendering it non-road-legal.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The counter-argument that these groups already get the same knowledge from Iran, which gets it from China, Russia, and North Korea, is largely true.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • More than 150 innocent civilians were also killed in those strikes, according to a report released by the Pentagon this August.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In England, poet William Cowper portrayed Mai as an innocent corrupted by European society.
    — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • The unpretentious city is dotted with temporary staffing agencies, money-wiring businesses and Mexican restaurants.
    — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Widow’s Bay Sorry, but that murderers’ row of unpretentious acting talent isn’t going to be topped.
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpretentious
Adjective
  • It is carefully crafted and wincingly sincere, a wonderful conversion of inversions.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • His method is often to approach cultural or political phenomena, progressive or reactionary, with a mix of Gen X irony and sincere moralism which, by degrees, subtly shifts the frame of the discourse to the right.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sincere
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.

Browse Nearby Words

unprepossessing
unpretending
unpretentious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unpretending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpretending. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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