as in pretension
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case
a woman of great affectation at social gatherings
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Recent Examples of affectation
From frame one, Bob Dylan, the creation, the idea, the trickster, the lone wolf, without attitude or affectation, your Dylan was no imitation.
—
Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2025
In a transfixing performance that balances colorful affectation with raw hunger, the actor makes Lee a magnetic raconteur whose shield of worldly composure falls away as Eugene (Drew Starkey) eludes his grasp, leaving him a virtual ghost by the end of the film.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
In the beginning of the series, which starts in the 1950s and goes through the AIDS epidemic, Tim is still boyish, and his affinity for milk is just another cute affectation that catches Hawk’s eye.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
In the 2010s, baking sourdough bread at home went from quirky, hippie affectation to a serious hobby.
—Meghan McCarron, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affectation
Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2025
In a transfixing performance that balances colorful affectation with raw hunger, the actor makes Lee a magnetic raconteur whose shield of worldly composure falls away as Eugene (Drew Starkey) eludes his grasp, leaving him a virtual ghost by the end of the film.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
In the beginning of the series, which starts in the 1950s and goes through the AIDS epidemic, Tim is still boyish, and his affinity for milk is just another cute affectation that catches Hawk’s eye.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
In the 2010s, baking sourdough bread at home went from quirky, hippie affectation to a serious hobby.
—Meghan McCarron, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affectation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectation
Noun
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Their pretensions are witheringly lampooned in this comic thriller about Ronnie, a Pakistani American who tags along to the desert enclave with her friend turned life coach, Marley.—
Calum Marsh,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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By contrast, Vito—Genovese, that is, not Corleone—pushes drugs aggressively, resorts to violence early and often, and scoffs at any pretensions of legitimacy, especially given the legalized thuggery of the politicians with whom Frank has curried favor.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Solskjaer felt that overconfidence bordering on arrogance might be PSG’s Achilles’ heel.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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Titan: Plunges into the chilling 2023 submersible tragedy, peeling back the layers of ambition, arrogance, and a lack of oversight that led to catastrophe.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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What To Know According to court documents reviewed by NewsNation, Piccolo is accused of driving up to a woman in Manatee County, stopping his vehicle under the pretense of asking for directions and then exposing himself.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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Moore befriended Shakespeare in 2008 under the pretense of writing a book about him, but the project never materialized.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Other highlights include the nine-foot-plus height for the tray ceiling, a walk-in closet with a skylight, and a primary bath that includes a soaking tub, separate large shower, dual sink vanity, and a private room for the commode.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2025
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Why Digital Products Are Changing the Game Entrepreneurial creators are shifting the narrative away from vanity metrics and toward meaningful income.—
Kristen Bousquet,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Observers called it the perfect mix of effectiveness and disdain.—
Duncan Alexander,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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Maher, a lifelong liberal and longtime critic of Trump, has never held back on his disdain for the Republican president’s actions and policies.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States enjoyed a margin of superiority that would have been unimaginable to earlier great powers.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Will this Lucid’s obvious superiority from a rational perspective be able to offset the minivan-esque styling?—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Chipotle, like other restaurants and fast-food chains that rely on supplies from Mexico, also forecast tepid annual comparable sales growth, bracing for a hit from inflation.—
Ananya Mariam Rajesh,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Stocks also took a hit last Wednesday after Fed chief Powell warned that tariffs could drive up U.S. inflation and stymie growth.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Taylor said the team hopes to host a contingent of young players from local club teams, and college players take pride in interacting with them.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
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Plus, the brand takes pride in their meticulous craftsmanship, with each hat requiring approximately 22 hours to complete.—
Pooja Shah,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affectation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectation. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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