Synonyms of airs

airs 1 of 2

noun

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

• show
• facade
• pretense
• guise
• act
• pose
• front
• charade
• masquerade
• semblance
• disguise
• appearance
• cloak
• performance
• put-on
• playacting
• pretext
• persona
• portrayal
• affectation
• impersonation
• image
• duplicity
• deception
• gloss
• camouflage
• treachery
• fraud
• deceit
• excuse
• falseness
• betrayal
• dissimulation
• treason
• color
• fakery
• guile
• perfidy
• dissembling
• falsity
• double cross
• faithlessness
• infidelity
• double-dealing
• unfaithfulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• directness
• candor
• bluntness
• outspokenness
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• candidness
• genuineness
• artlessness
• naïveté
• openheartedness
• plainspokenness

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

• voices
• expresses
• gives
• states
• announces
• ventilates
• looks
• sounds
• expounds
• vents
• writes
• broadcasts
• raises
• proclaims
• publishes
• puts forth
• advertises
• says
• conveys
• circulates
• describes
• declares
• disseminates
• gives air to
• enunciates
• offers
• submits
• enounces
• speaks out
• speaks up
• communicates
• sounds off
• writes up
• chimes in
• puts across
• puts over

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppresses
• restricts
• stifles
• restrains
• censors

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

Recent Examples of airs

Noun

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the new series premieres on October 1 and October 2 on BBC 1 and airs twice a week. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026

Unlike with FanDuel, there currently are no plans for WPLG re-airs the day following games. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, the journalist’s other show which airs on Friday evenings, was also renamed. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Lainey Wilson will return to the role of CMA Awards host when Country Music’s Biggest Night airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 18. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026

It’s long ceased to be a neighborhood that puts on airs, an attitude that liberates us all tonight. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Discourse in the group continues long after the show airs, with members keeping up with the contestants from past seasons via social media and clamoring for details about their lives. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Channels, Streaming Services NCAA football airs across a host of networks and accompanying streaming services (both live TV streamers and on-demand services). — Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2026

With performer lineup updates rolling out throughout August, there's now a clearer picture of what viewers can expect when the live broadcast airs September 3 from the Starlite Auditorium in Marbella, Spain. — Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

Hansen will appear in an ad that airs exclusively before screenings of the film, directing audiences to check out his true-crime network, TruBlu. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Moreno is mum about what transpired at the reunion, which airs on Monday, August 31, but says that Dean approached her in the hallway to clear the air. — Paula Mejía, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026

The popular reality program that airs three times a week on CBS is a one-of-a-kind social experiment where 16 strangers are locked in a house together for the summer. — Matt Minton, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026

For $6/month, viewers can watch all out-of-market live preseason action on NFL+, unless the game airs on a national network, as is the case Thursday night when ESPN covers Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders’ trip to play the Houston Texans. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The series airs every Tuesday evening and then streams after that. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

The combat and self-defense competition series, which airs on YouTube and across social media has generated 150M views online and has run for three seasons. — Peter White, Deadline, 17 July 2026

The new episode of Most Extreme Humans airs Wednesday, July 15 at 9 pm ET/PT on TLC. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

However, the finale typically airs in late September or early October. — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026