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air

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of air

1 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
  • played a lively air on his fiddle
Synonyms of air

lay, melody, song, strain, tune, warble
Words Related to air

descant (also discant)

cadence, measure, meter, rhythm

ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal
2 a slight or gentle movement of air
  • We sailed into the bay on a light air and just in time to enjoy a spectacular sunset.
Synonyms of air

breath, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr
Words Related to air

current, draft, whiff

sea breeze

blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind

squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm

airflow
Near Antonyms of air

calm
3 a special quality or impression associated with something
  • Naomi's the only person I know who can wear old jeans and a T-shirt with an air of elegance.
Synonyms of air

ambience (or ambiance), aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, note, odor, patina, smell, temper, vibration(s)
Words Related to air

mystique, romance

feel, feeling, sensation, sense, spirit

attribute, character, characteristic, image, mark, notion, peculiarity, picture, property, trait

color, illusion, overtone, semblance, suggestion, tone
4 airs plural a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
  • Ever since she joined the country club she's been putting on airs of being too "high society" for us ordinary folks.
Synonyms of air

act, charade, disguise, facade (also façade), front, guise, masquerade, playacting, pose, pretense (or pretence), put-on, semblance, show
Words Related to air

impersonation, performance, portrayal

image, persona

appearance, color, gloss

camouflage, cloak

affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile

betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness

excuse, pretext
Near Antonyms of air

bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, straightforwardness

artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete)

Synonym Discussion of air

pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving. pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.
    • her shyness was just a pose
air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.
    • a traveler's sophisticated air
airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.
    • snobbish airs
affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.
    • the posh accent is an affectation
mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.
    • gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

air

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of air

to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion)
  • He suggested we air any complaints about the seating arrangements to the person who actually planned the event.
Synonyms of air

expound, express, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice
Words Related to air

advertise, announce, declare, enunciate, proclaim, say

broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish

describe, write, write up

sound off, speak out, speak up

chime in

communicate, convey, put across, put over

offer, submit
Phrases Synonymous with air

give air to, put forth
Near Antonyms of air

censor, restrain, restrict
Antonyms of air

stifle, suppress

Synonym Discussion of air

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels. express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.
    • expressed her feelings in music
vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.
    • a tirade venting his frustration
utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.
    • utter a groan
voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.
    • an editorial voicing their concerns
broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.
    • broached the subject of a divorce
air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.
    • publicly airing their differences

Learn More about air

  1. See words that rhyme with air Dictionary: Definition of air Medical Dictionary: Definition of air Spanish Central: Translation of air Nglish: Translation of air for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of air for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about air

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