as in pretentious
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Recent Examples of fancy-pants
The surprise of Clover Hill is not that this sort of food is on offer in an outer borough—with its concentration of zillion-dollar brownstones and fancy-pants residents, Brooklyn Heights isn’t exactly salt of the earth.
—
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
But no—not good enough for these fancy-pants mathematicians who need their own set of characters just to feel special.
—Eli Burnstein, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2023
With crust that's beautifully singed and wondrously puffed, the not-so-basic numbers are polished with fancy-pants ingredients—from Calabrian chile, fennel and sausage to a cacio e pepe riff made with velvety cream sauce, formaggi al pepe and pecorino.
—Brooke Viggiano, Chron, 12 Mar. 2023
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
But no—not good enough for these fancy-pants mathematicians who need their own set of characters just to feel special.
—Eli Burnstein, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2023
With crust that's beautifully singed and wondrously puffed, the not-so-basic numbers are polished with fancy-pants ingredients—from Calabrian chile, fennel and sausage to a cacio e pepe riff made with velvety cream sauce, formaggi al pepe and pecorino.
—Brooke Viggiano, Chron, 12 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy-pants
Adjective
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Buckle up for this globe-trotting, CGI-heavy adventure that combines apocalyptic spectacle and family drama in the least pretentious way possible.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Jimbo, the most ridiculously pretentious egomaniac in rock-star history, seemed so excessive that no actor could play him, but Val Kilmer was up to the task.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Incorporate grandiose accents like opulent chandeliers, old-world upholstery, and ornate picture frames.—
Isabella Milano,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
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Nithyananda was also grandiose, linking himself to long religious and royal lineages.—
Mujib Mashal,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nelis renders the professor a pompous and pedantic twit but not a heartless one.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
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Basden could have slicked up his acting with a lot of pompous pop star clichés.—
Peter Rainer,
The Christian Science Monitor,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In a moment of inflated prices, when even the American fast food experience might have lost some of its economic appeal, the Masters remains unchanged.—
Hugh Kellenberger,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Predatory real estate tactics-such as inflated land valuations that push Native families out, coercive buyouts, and exploitative leasing agreements-undermine Tribal sovereignty and destabilize Native economies.—
Oweesta,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As its name suggests, hyaluronic acid plays a heavy role in its hydrating effects, but other skin-plumping ingredients at work include licorice root and purple rice extracts, two antioxidant-rich ingredients that hydrate while brightening skin and evening tone.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
4 Apr. 2025
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Lohan wore a light purple minidress from Chanel’s spring 1997 collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Notably, the Marly set is one of the more ornate offerings in Christofle’s lineup, highlighting Louis XV-style motifs with delicate asymmetrical vines and foliage.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
3 Apr. 2025
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Opened in July 2024, India’s second Raffles location makes a dramatic first impression, which perfectly captures the spirit of this city known for its ornate palaces and forts.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some critics compared the president's ambitions to the bloated military spectacles seen in dictatorships, such as the parades in honor of Kim Jong Un in North Korea.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Financial Case For Leaner Boards Beyond governance challenges, bloated boards can carry significant financial implications.—
Paul Davis,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This was a stilted, corrupt attempt to juice a friend’s stock, and certainly beneath the office of the presidency.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
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Overall, the video comes across pretty stilted for most of its run time.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
26 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fancy-pants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy-pants. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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