manner

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 Cochran drove in a manner that indicated to Taylor that the sheriff was trying to evade him, Welch said. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025 An official ruling on his cause and manner of death are pending the results of an autopsy, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office website. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025 And the manner in which Victor presents this narrative, with such verve and confidence and tenderness and pitch-black humor, defies easy description. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025 Additionally, the rate at which water freezes affects the shape and size in which bubbles form, in a predictable manner. New Atlas, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for manner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manner
Noun
  • The dispute between the two golfers was captured on video and appeared to be a matter of golf etiquette.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
  • The latest rules of tipping etiquette include 18 to 20% for services that require a fair amount of effort — waiting tables, delivering food, styling hair, babysitting and driving a rideshare or taxi, for example.
    Katie Kelton, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • With four smart modes (cool, gentle, fast, and style) and magnetic attachments like a diffuser and concentrator, the Zuvi puts you in control.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 5 July 2025
  • Under stress, however, your body naturally shifts into the nervous system’s sympathetic or fight-or-flight mode, driving faster, shallower breaths from the upper chest.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Allegiant does not tolerate disruptive behavior of any kind.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
  • There are three holidays when alcohol of any kind is prohibited from being sold in Tennessee.
    Jordan Green, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • By eliminating traditional cooling methods, Shell has significantly reduced energy demand while boosting efficiency.
    Kathleen Abbott, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Areas to watch, says Arthur Adam, a neurosurgeon and stroke expert at University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, include how human brain tissue is affected by the new thrombectomy method, and how the cells and debris behave once they’re liberated from the fibrin by the milli-spinner.
    Ani Freedman, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • When the dentist came back, his demeanor had changed.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
  • Björn Borg, with his headbands and ice-cold demeanor, and Arthur Ashe, with his academic cool and understated elegance, became icons whose style outlasted their careers.
    Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Retro gingham Capricorn is all about timeless style with a tailored twist.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
  • Javier Meza, Coca Cola’s Europe CMO, shared last year how his company is using first-party data and AI to shift from a broad targeting style to a more consumer-centric approach.
    Wolfgang Sixl, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Disney's approach uses three foundational principles that address the organizational dynamics often overlooked in AI implementations.
    Maribel Lopez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Tom, talk more about your approach to the role once In-ho’s mask does come off.
    Jim Halterman, Variety, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Unable to keep pace, academic administrations largely stopped trying to control students’ use of artificial intelligence and adopted an attitude of hopeful resignation, encouraging teachers to explore the practical, pedagogical applications of A.I.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • Perhaps the attitude is that, as the tech sector caused the problem and is profiting from it, the tech sector should sort it out.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Manner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manner. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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