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

With the cancellation of Starfleet Academy after its second season airs next year, that should bring the current crop of streaming shows in the franchise to an end. —

ArsTechnica, 26 Apr. 2026 The reunion won’t begin airing in full until after the season finale airs on May 19, so this leak comes at least a month ahead of the conversation going public. —

Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 Survivor airs Wednesdays on CBS. —

Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026 Premiering in March, the show airs on HBO Max Australia and Channel Three in New Zealand. —

Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 Follow Farmer Brett’s journey for love when Farmer Wants A Wife airs on FOX on Tuesday nights, next day on Hulu. —

Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026 Rooster airs Sunday nights on HBO and HBO Max. —

David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026 Euphoria season 3 — which is set to feature more guest appearances from Natasha Lyonne, Trisha Paytas, recording artist Rosalia, and more — airs Sundays on HBO. —

Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026 The show airs on Sundays on HBO. —

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026

Verb

The show airs monthly on the YES Network and the Gotham Sports App. —

Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 27 Apr. 2026 Following her mainstream acting debut in Season 2, Cherry reprises her role as Faye in Season 3 of Euphoria, which airs Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO. —

Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Tuesdays at 8 PM ET on Bravo. —

Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Robert Costa, the award-winning national correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and chief Washington analyst for CBS News, talks about Michigan's role in this critical midterm election during an appearance on Michigan Matters, which airs this Sunday. —

Carol Cain, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 This post will be updated as Margo’s Got Money Troubles airs its remaining five episodes weekly through May 20. —

Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026 The Audacity airs new episodes Sundays on AMC+ and AMC. —

Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026 The network typically airs one or two roasts every year. —

Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025 The show, which airs as an internet livestream, features cartoon voice actors led by their DM, Matthew Mercer. —

Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for airs

Noun

The roughly thirty-pound latex belly that Harbour wore to give Floyd extra heft is on full display in the show’s final episode, when Floyd and Clark strip down to their boxer briefs and dance by the pool lockers in a kind of tête-à-tête disco.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
The many attending assistants around her eventually disperse — a little hesitantly because Sam is in the middle of preparing a new show — and the two withdraw to Sam’s cavernous studio.

— Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Definition of show

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“Airs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airs. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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