Pedantic vs. Pretentious — What's the Difference?

Excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous

Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed

Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for academic knowledge and formal rules

Claiming that or behaving as if one is important or deserving of merit when such is not the case

Being overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning, like a pedant.

Showing or betraying an attitude of superiority

Being showy of one’s knowledge, often in a boring manner.

Marked by an extravagant or presumptuous outward show; ostentatious

Of or pertaining to a pedant; characteristic of, or resembling, a pedant; ostentatious of learning; as, a pedantic writer; a pedantic description; a pedantical affectation.

Intended to impress others.

Marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects

Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming.

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

Intended to attract notice and impress others;

Of a display that is tawdry or vulgar