air 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
as in melody
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect played a lively air on his fiddle

Synonyms & Similar Words

air

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun air contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of air are affectation, airs, mannerism, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

In what contexts can affectation take the place of air?

The words affectation and air can be used in similar contexts, but affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

When would airs be a good substitute for air?

While in some cases nearly identical to air, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

When is mannerism a more appropriate choice than air?

While the synonyms mannerism and air are close in meaning, mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When could pose be used to replace air?

In some situations, the words pose and air are roughly equivalent. However, pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

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 air
Noun
In came air, but also spiders and big snakes and baboons. Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 The lightweight formulas of summer often need a boost, like richer creams, protective mists, and glow-boosting serums to help skin, hair, and body thrive in cooler, drier air. Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Episodes will air every Wednesday in a 90-minute format the show adopted starting with Survivor Season 45. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025 The live, two-hour special, which comes from ITV’s Plimsoll Productions, will air in 2026. Peter White, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for air
Noun
  • Brad was firmly outside the mansion’s mysterious aura of cool during that now 50-year-old scene, so Bostwick just hangs out with other fans if he gets lost.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
  • But Picardo developed a comprehensive strategy and mission statement to attract more consumers and brand partners, while maintaining Holts’ luxury aura and reinforcing its social values.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The idea behind the Tumbleweed project is to design large-scale, low-cost robotic rovers that can cover great swathes of the Martian surface while driven purely by the breeze.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The cuffed pants and the knee-length cardigan offer enough coverage to stay cozy against a cool breeze.
    Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The act requires virtual currency kiosk operators to register with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, provide reports detailing all kiosk locations, and provide full refunds to new customers who are victims of scams at kiosks.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Victims should document evidence, prioritize safety and report incidents promptly, even if unsure whether the act constitutes a crime, officials said.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Nashville is known as Music City, but its melodies have occasionally taken the town from the stage to the screen.
    Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 2025
  • That means Swift incorporated a portion of the pop classic's composition into her version, in this case the melody and beginning chorus lyrics.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The development sparked a backlash from the acting community, with the likes of Emily Blunt and SAG-AFTRA voicing concern.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Two days later, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr voiced his frustrations over Kimmel's comments and ABC temporarily pulled Kimmel from the air, while broadcasters Sinclair and Nexstar continued to preempt the show following its return on Sept 23.
    Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests).
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • That distinction likely reflects shifts in Mars' climate and atmosphere as Jezero Crater filled with sediment, the researcher said.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Harry the catfish popped to the surface first, his fishy breath curling the grass along the bank.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
  • In the studio, niche interests are exchanged for conformity and collective attention to breath and postures—at least on the surface.
    Calin Van Paris, Outside, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Multiple Democrats say Vought and the president were determined to use the shutdown as a pretense for inflicting further pain on political opponents.
    Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.
    Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/air. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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