Synonym Chooser

How does the noun affectation contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of affectation are airs, air, mannerism, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

When would air be a good substitute for affectation?

While the synonyms air and affectation are close in meaning, air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

When is it sensible to use airs instead of affectation?

The meanings of airs and affectation largely overlap; however, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

When can mannerism be used instead of affectation?

Although the words mannerism and affectation have much in common, mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When is pose a more appropriate choice than affectation?

The synonyms pose and affectation are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 affectation Ivy-as-Marilyn is an inconsiderate, amphetamine guzzling faux-intellectual whose devotion to the acting craft is presented as a vainglorious affectation. Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025 From our review: Tessa Van den Broeck, a newcomer, plays Julie with zero affectation. The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 The interaction between Briony and Jamie starts off amiably, with Jamie needling Briony for her posh affectations. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025 Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society. Ew Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affectation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectation
Noun
  • The Chicago Athletic Association offers an elevated members club experience without the steely pretension.
    Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Such pretensions on the part of the mega-rich aren’t new; Lowell reminds us of that.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Mitchell prides himself on being a no-nonsense, no-bulls*** kind of man, but his attitude can sometimes come across as arrogance.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • This arrogance is not just limited to tech titans.
    Christian Josi, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • By showing both timelines, director Cato Kusters resists using Julian’s illness as a plot device, encouraging us to watch these women without the pretense of melodrama.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But not everyone accepts that pretense.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There was no vanity in her, which is what Fran McDormand had.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The homeowner’s suite, comprising a large bedroom, a sitting/dressing room, lots of closet space, and a bathroom with marble vanities, spills onto a deck overlooking the yard.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.
    Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In a new documentary, Murray and Tom Hanks reflect on their late friend's disdain for media attention surrounding his body.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Timothy Olyphant, again, sells the superiority well.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Originally from Ohio, Howard would whisper-speak his lectures to a crowded room, describing with fatigued superiority people (including his family) who couldn’t properly appreciate Nijinsky.
    Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But her best work is in reaction to McKellen’s grandiosity.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Talking to a narcissist—whose behavior is characterized by grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy—is the ultimate example of navigating conversational landmines.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In recent months, tariffs modestly contributed to the uptick in overall inflation, analysts previously told ABC News, but overall price increases owed largely to a rise in housing and food products with little connection to Trump’s levies.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Affectation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectation. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on affectation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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