unpretentiously
- adverb
- /ˌʌnprɪˈtɛnʃəsli/
- The restaurant is unpretentiously decorated, focusing on simple, homey furnishings.
He showed me that even in a palace, one could live simply and unpretentiously.
- He showed me that even in a palace, one could live simply and unpretentiously.
Examples
-
She spoke unpretentiously, sharing her thoughts without trying to impress anyone.
-
Golden lantern light illuminated the large, unpretentiously handsome face that was now somber and grim.
Fiction book (1993) -
As unpretentiously as I could, I asked her about Max.
Fiction book (1991) -
We had two rooms plus a kitchen and bath in an unpretentiously ramshackle postwar apartment building.
Fiction book (1995) -
He unpretentiously volunteered his help, expecting nothing in return.
Synonyms
You do this in a plain way without extra things
In a simple, not showy way
In a simple way without decoration
Without being easily seen or noticed by other people
In a plain, simple way without decoration or luxury
In a modest way that does not draw attention
In a quiet way that does not get attention
In a simple way without extra decoration
In a natural, simple way that does not seem planned
In a simple, honest way without trying to impress
Antonyms
How Pretentious
Surface Forms
Morphology
unpretentiously = unpretentious (transparent) = un + pretentious + ly
The adverb is a straightforward -ly formation from 'unpretentious', and 'unpretentious' is a clear negation of 'pretentious'.
Etymology
Unpretentiously breaks into un- ('not') and pretend ('to act as if' or 'to show off'), so it describes acting simply and modestly, without trying to impress others.