AIRS Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

airs 1 of 2

noun

Definition of airs next

plural of air

as in show

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 & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

airs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of air

as in voices

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

How does the noun airs contrast with its synonyms?

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

The 79th annual Tony Awards airs on CBS (steams on Paramount+) from Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7. —

Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026 The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS. —

Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026 And since The Real Housewives airs on Bravo, cord-cutters can watch new episodes live on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV. —

Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Apr. 2026 The next episode of Top Chef airs Monday, April 6. —

Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 In September 2025, Disney suspended late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, whose program airs on ABC, after Kimmel suggested that right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was killed by a fellow conservative. —

David Cortright, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026 The series premieres at the festival and airs on Radio-Canada in May. —

Jennie Punter, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026

Verb

BritBox is owned by the show’s distributor, BBC Studios, and already airs W1A and Twenty Twelve — Morton’s two previous shows — in the States. —

Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026 The revelation comes as season 10 (which the cast filmed last summer) currently airs on the network. —

Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026 American Idol airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC. —

Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026 Dark Winds airs on AMC and streams on AMC+, with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays. —

Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026 The show airs on on Fox and will be available on Hulu the next day. —

Arushi Jacob, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026 The network usually airs a couple of games each week. —

Takashi Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 Wait, isn't that what CNN airs every night? —

Gustavo Arellano, Houston Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026 Fox News Media, the home of the conservative-leaning cable channel, also offers a radio service with hourly newscasts and dedicated reporters, which airs on several hundred stations (the company does not supply a specific number). —

Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for airs

Noun

Swift's first time at the awards show in three years was a celebratory one.

— Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Hungarians living near the southern frontier, where Orbán made a show of building a border fence during the refugee crisis, are travelling to Croatia to buy cheap groceries.

— Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026

Definition of show

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“Airs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airs. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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