air 1 of 2

Definition of airnext
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

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
The air rang with random alarms; the soft surfaces were mottled with mystery stains. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 The middle of the week, however, is typically the slowest time for air travel, and Leavitt seemed to acknowledge there was room for improvement. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The star previewed the track during her deeply nostalgic Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special which aired on Disney+ earlier this week. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026 Following a contentious, roughly four-hour meeting Tuesday at which numerous residents aired their concerns about the proposal, the Yorkville City Council has given the green light to another data center project. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for air
Noun
  • Trump cultivates an aura of unpredictability, but his actions betray certain patterns that are discernible to those who know where to look.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Celebrate, manifest or recharge your aura with a candle that's playful, bold and a little too accurate.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • There is also seating on the outdoor Thomson Plaza where guests can catch the Miami breeze blowing Ultra’s music your way until curtain.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Temperatures will struggle to reach 50° on Saturday afternoon, with a chilly breeze.
    Cutter Martin, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Alongside the conference programme, the SXSW London Music Festival will showcase more than 200 artists, spanning emerging voices and established acts such as Tiwa Savage, ODUMODUBLVCK, Rachel Chinouriri and Circa Waves.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The amphitheater, where bandleader Cesar LaMonaca led an orchestra under the moonlight for nearly 50 years, was gone, eventually replaced and moved a bit north and booked with acts of the day.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • With lyrics in Bété, French, and English, the album is lush with ceremonial Wihegou melodies played on West African instruments like the kora and djembe, and resonant with themes of heritage, spirituality, and hope.
    Chinonso Ihekire, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The sentiment voiced by the rabbis did not stop several prominent Jewish politicians in New York, including Representative Jerry Nadler, whose district spans much of Manhattan, and Brad Lander, then New York City’s comptroller, from endorsing Mamdani.
    Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Organizers said that millions of people turned up for ‘No Kings’ rallies in all 50 states, voicing anger over the country’s direction, including fatal ICE shootings and troops dispatched to the Middle East.
    Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This visual story captures the festival’s scale, atmosphere, fashion and crowd energy throughout the grounds.
    Miami Herald newsroom, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Despite the fact that small space objects are constantly crashing into the Earth's atmosphere, the amount of fireballs reported in 2026 is more than usual.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • To get back to, the surface and get a breath before the next one comes.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?
    Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Maybe the pretense was comforting to him, too.
    Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
  • As architectural fashion has shifted, the software is no longer associated with complex geometry, and the pretense that digital tools might liberate architects—spurring them to new heights of creativity—has faded.
    Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/air. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on air

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster