manner

Definition of mannernext
1
as in etiquette
manners plural personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting the young man's impeccable manners are an unmistakable sign of a good upbringing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in mode
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words the former doctor writes his novels very much in the manner of someone who is used to observing the smallest details

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun manner contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manner are bearing, carriage, demeanor, deportment, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

When can bearing be used instead of manner?

The meanings of bearing and manner largely overlap; however, bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When could carriage be used to replace manner?

The words carriage and manner are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

In what contexts can demeanor take the place of manner?

The synonyms demeanor and manner are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When is deportment a more appropriate choice than manner?

The words deportment and manner can be used in similar contexts, but deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to manner?

In some situations, the words mien and manner are roughly equivalent. However, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of manner Championship matches, which rarely last longer than 30 minutes and sometimes much less, are inevitably preceded by hours of participants making all manner of florid claims and trash-talking their opponents. Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 This is an example of the press doing its job in a thorough and fair manner. Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 The Medical Examiner’s office said a cause and manner of death are pending completion of its investigation. Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 14 June 2026 These rules, meant to ensure that the judge will hear cases in an impartial manner and retain the trust of the public, specifically ban statements on how a candidate might rule on cases or interpret the law. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for manner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manner
Noun
  • One or both of them invokes the noble name of etiquette, claiming to be enforcing proper behavior.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
  • The proper etiquette is to line up to the side of the doors, then board when the outpour of people has stopped.
    Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Vegas pulled Carter Hart with about three minutes to go, officially entering desperation mode, but nothing worked, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored an empty-netter to start the party.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
  • Salaviza described the short form as a pure mode of expression in which authentic emotion is fundamental, while von Döhren – drawing on her parallel career as an illustrator – emphasized how effectively the format can convey feeling through storytelling.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • This one-of-a-kind woman heads the collection founded in its day by Emile Hermès (1871–1951)—an extraordinary cabinet of curiosities whose doors are occasionally opened to a select few on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
    Pierre Groppo, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
  • Earlier this year, Moderna’s data was at the center of a highly unusual public dispute as a then-top FDA official blocked the company’s application for its first-of-its-kind shot.
    Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • In a crew filled with people convinced of the superiority of their own methods, Cooper just wants to look at peacocks, call his grandma, and engage in some PG-13 flirting with fellow innocent oddball Kat.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 June 2026
  • SpaceX exposure in other portfolios While SpaceX will be fast-tracked into some indexes that are popular choices in retirement accounts, there are also other methods for getting access in standard brokerage accounts.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • In her early public appearances, she was often seen with her head bowed and her gaze upward, a posture that, alongside her soft-spoken demeanor, led the British press to characterize her as timid and reserved.
    Elle Meier, InStyle, 13 June 2026
  • Froio was also praised by colleagues for her kindness, patience, ability to teach her staff and successfully manage a frenetic newsroom with an extremely calm demeanor.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • Cleage gives the women plenty of substance, though her novelistic mode — more telling than showing — deprives her drama of style.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • The food truck officially launched in 2021 and serves Filipino-style egg rolls, along with dishes such as chicken adobo and pancit, or Filipino-style noodles.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • To scale this guardrail, the exploit chain used Microsoft’s Bing search engine as a trampoline of sorts.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026
  • So now there isn’t just one archetype of the Rocky underdog character sort.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • This isn't always the best approach, Aussem said.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • Eleventy’s Made in Italy offering across menswear and womenswear, the latter a burgeoning category, has thrived not just for its muted, easy-to-approach aesthetic, but also for smart pricing, catering to customers otherwise priced out by luxury megabrands.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Manner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manner. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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