unpretentious

/ˈʌnprəˌtɛntʃəs/

The adjective unpretentious is perfect for describing someone you know who's modest and natural and never tries to impress other people.

Pretentious comes from the Latin word meaning "pretend," prætensus, so when you're unpretentious, you see no reason to pretend. Some of your favorite people are probably unpretentious, tending to be honest and genuine. When extremely talented or well-known people are unpretentious, they feel no need to show off or remind you of their accomplishments. A place can also be described as unpretentious, if it's simple and comfortable, like the cozy, unpretentious cafe where you like to hang out.

Definitions of unpretentious

1. adjective

   lacking pretension or affectation
   “an unpretentious country church”

   “her quiet unpretentious demeanor”

   synonyms:

   plain

   not elaborate or elaborated; simple

   honest

   without pretensions

   modest

   free from pomp or affectation

   unpompous

   not pompous

   tasteful

   having or showing or conforming to good taste

   antonyms:

   pretentious

   making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction

   arty

   showily imitative of art or artists

   artsy-craftsy, arty-crafty

   pretentiously artistic; cloyingly charming

   grandiloquent, overblown, pompous, pontifical, portentous

   puffed up with vanity

   grandiose, hifalutin, highfalutin, highfaluting, hoity-toity, la-di-da

   affectedly genteel

   high-flown, high-sounding, inflated

   pretentious (especially with regard to language or ideals)

   jumped-up

   (British informal) upstart

   nouveau-riche, parvenu, parvenue, upstart

   characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position

   sententious

   abounding in or given to pompous or aphoristic moralizing

   sesquipedalian

   given to the overuse of long words

   tasteless

   lacking aesthetic or social taste
2. adjective

   not ostentatious
   synonyms: unostentatious, unpretending

   quiet, restrained

   not showy or obtrusive
3. adjective

   exhibiting restraint, especially in regards to taste
   synonyms: understated, unostentatious

   tasteful

   having or showing or conforming to good taste