airs 1 of 2

plural of air

airs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of air

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun airs contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of airs are affectation, air, mannerism, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

Where would affectation be a reasonable alternative to airs?

The meanings of affectation and airs largely overlap; however, affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

In what contexts can air take the place of airs?

In some situations, the words air and airs are roughly equivalent. However, air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

When could mannerism be used to replace airs?

The words mannerism and airs can be used in similar contexts, but mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When might pose be a better fit than airs?

While the synonyms pose and airs are close in meaning, 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 airs
Noun
Viewers will get more context when the next episode airs Tuesday. David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025 The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS (check local listings). Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 This is how media coverage and your communications strategy, in general, develop depth that endures long after the interview airs. Jenna Guarneri, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 The series airs and streams live on ABC and Disney+ and also has next-day streaming on Hulu. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025 The Paper – How to Watch The Paper airs at 12 am Pacific Time (PT) on September 4, 2025/3 am Eastern Time (ET). Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS (check local listings). Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Good Morning America airs weekdays on ABC. EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Burton noted that this audience is much younger than its traditional audience on PBS, where the show still airs in a linear form. Peter White, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025 So a network that airs the Super Bowl or an awards telecast will be able to give a sense of the audience for the event, even if the bulk of that number will likely hinge on linear viewing. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025 As many viewers know, WPLG 10 and ABC divorced this year, and ABC programming now airs on a digital channel owned by Sunbeam, which is WSVN 7’s parent company. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025 Unlike shows like The Real Housewives and The Traitors, which film months ahead of their premieres, Love Island airs episodes within hours of filming, while contestants remain separated from their phones and essentially isolated from the real world. Caroline Framke, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025 Love Thy Nader airs Tuesdays on Freeform. EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025 YouTube will soon realize the Taylor Swift mania effect, too, as the tech behemoth exclusively airs Friday’s game in Brazil, marking the platform’s first-ever live NFL game. Mark J. Burns, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Typically, The Traitors — which airs on streamer Peacock — features celebrities competing for the cash prize, but this time, ordinary fans will play the game, with Alan Cumming returning as host. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 14 Aug. 2025 White, though, is part of the promotional team for the Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford fight in September in Las Vegas that airs on Netflix. Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airs
Noun
  • As fans scramble to catch the ball, footage shows, the ball appears to land one row in front of a woman while a man runs over and grabs it.
    Chandelis Duster, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Following the show's cancellation, Gosselaar landed several leading roles on series such as Pitch (2016), The Passage (2019), and Mixed-ish (2019–2021).
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Todd Williams voices the beloved vampire hunter, though the character maintains the likeness of Ali.
    EW.com, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Nolan Ryan Famous Texas Rangers pitcher, team president and CEO Nolan Ryan shows up and voices himself in episode 10.
    Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Yet, for some, their luxury vacations are all a facade.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Film Festival, shows the private turmoil behind the comedian’s affable facade.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If a user expresses thoughts of suicide, Ebb is trained to pass the conversation to a crisis line, Glover says.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • In his voiceover, McElwee frequently addresses Adrian and eulogizes his memory, but also expresses self-critical ruminations about his part in his son’s death, how his filmmaking may have contributed to his shaky self-image and the growing distance between them.
    Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But not everyone accepts that pretense.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
  • But the Jiménezes’ work does not carry the pretense of purity.
    Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The hurricane center gives the system an 80% chance of formation through the next seven days.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • And podcasting gives me the perfect platform to do that.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As good as the car looks, especially in its open-top Volante guise, the real story can be found underneath its hood.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Now, palladium in a jar connected to nuclear fusion is being revived but in a different guise.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Already, there have been rapid responses with states changing their policies to ensure pharmacists can provide vaccines, and states making alliances with other states to provide vaccine recommendations and vaccines themselves.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Airs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airs. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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