unpretentious
Free of pretense
Unpretentious describes someone or something modest and without affectation—not trying to seem more important, sophisticated, or impressive than they are.
An unpretentious restaurant serves good food without fancy décor or inflated prices.
An unpretentious person doesn't put on airs: She remained unpretentious despite her fame.
The word carries approval—genuineness over showiness.
Lacking in pretension
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- meekHumbly unassertive
demure · reserved · retiring · diffident · unobtrusive · gentle · mild · lowly
Verified as original
- realTruly existing, not fake
- honestFree from deception
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
- heartfeltDeeply and sincerely meant
transparent · frank · candid · straightforward · earnest · guileless · forthright · unfeigned
Calm and unhurried
- relaxedFree of stress
- informalRelaxed, not official
- easygoingRelaxed in temperament
- breezyMildly windy, or nonchalant
effortless · understated · chill · nonchalant · unfussy · unaffected · spontaneous · natural
Basic and unremarkable
- basicFundamental in nature
- unadornedLacking decoration or ornament
- uncomplicatedEasy to understand
- no-frillsWithout extras or embellishments
spartan · unembellished · minimalist · functional · understated · homely · uncluttered · utilitarian
modest
Lacking in pretension
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
meek · demure · reserved · retiring · diffident · unobtrusive · gentle · mild · lowly · ordinary
authentic
Verified as original
heartfelt · transparent · frank · candid · straightforward · earnest · guileless · forthright · unfeigned · truthful
laid-back
Calm and unhurried
breezy · effortless · understated · chill · nonchalant · unfussy · unaffected · spontaneous · natural · unstudied
plain
Basic and unremarkable
- basicFundamental in nature
- unadornedLacking decoration or ornament
- uncomplicatedEasy to understand
no-frills · spartan · unembellished · minimalist · functional · understated · homely · uncluttered · utilitarian · bare
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- simplicitysimple, minimalism, plain, clarity, bare
- homespunfolksy, homey, rustic, down-to-earth, homestyle
- wabi-sabiimperfection, impermanence, transience, patina, kintsugi
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- integrityintegrity, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, rectitude
unpretentiouspretentious
Falsely grand or important
ostentatious · showy · pompous · flashy · grandiose