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
The tournament, while not officially sanctioned as an ATP event, features some of the top players in the world vying for millions of dollars and airs live on Netflix. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Earlier this year, the CMA and ABC announced an extension of your partnership to run through 2032 and includes streaming the CMA Awards on Disney+ for the first time simultaneously as the show airs on ABC. — Melinda Newman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 Déclassé warriors, sometimes joined by street toughs from other walks of life, gave themselves the airs of swashbuckling samurai. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The debate airs on Atlanta News First and Gray television stations around the state (WALB in Albany, WRDW in Augusta, WTVM and WXTX in Columbus and WTOC in Savannah). — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Disney also plans to use the fact that the next Super Bowl airs during a three-day-weekend and in close proximity to Valentine’s Day. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 As season seven airs, Newport is juggling her divorce alongside a string of high-profile romances. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 South Park airs on Comedy Central, which is owned by Paramount. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 29 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
Verb
Following the ruling, Benson drowns her sorrows over cocktails with Sharpe, and, in a revealing, impeccably acted scene, airs out her grievances about her job. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 The news comes ahead of the Season 1 finale, which airs October 9. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 For Amazon Prime Video, this adds to the Thursday Night Football deal with the NFL, which also airs for free with ads, and Amazon has also made other concerts available on streaming behind the paywall. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026 The programme started in the 1990s on Canal+ and now airs on Movistar+. — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 Built to banter about local news, sports and immigration raids, Coyotec now airs in English and is expanding to stations in Sacramento, Las Vegas and beyond. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Snoop Dogg hosts the ceremony, which airs live on CBS and MTV and streams on Paramount+. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026 Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays on ABC and is available to stream on Disney+. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026 His studio, The Devil’s Workshop, is located in Berwyn, a town that’s also a running gag on Svengoolie’s show, which airs Saturday nights on MeTV. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airs
Noun
  • At the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, curator John Fields has built a renowned space for visual art, attracting a kaleidoscope of artists and shows over the course of his 12-year tenure.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Social media and the rise of influencers transformed the streets outside the shows into a stage of their own.
    — Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Larson headlined the Apple TV+’s Lessons in Chemistry, earning Emmy, SAG, Critics Choice, and Golden Globe nominations, and voices Rosalina in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Vasarhelyi, seemingly a less hands-on presence in this project, voices a few more misgivings, at one stage pointedly asking her husband how many people who have previously been guests at their dinner table are now dead.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The story centers on a transfer student’s enigmatic bond with a teacher, as a string of unexplained, supernatural incidents cracks the school’s polished facade.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As Ray goes down the rabbit hole, the shiny facade of Metropia and Megamax (which is, notably and obviously evil from the start) begin to crumble.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The film certainly expresses an interest in the shifting dynamics of this unconventional unit, especially once Junna does fall pregnant and moves into the family home.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Edward Ferrars expresses his surprise that hunters should be considered a necessity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful—don't expect any pretense here, just genuine (and enjoyable) engagement.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Tom’s frugality also lured Nancy into the business on the pretense of spending more time together.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • SpaceX gives investors more reasons to buy into the bull case SpaceX gave investors plenty to be excited about last week.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This agreement gives our producers a direct working relationship with the Korean industry.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • But unlike Backrooms, SCP Foundation has always been more centralized to this one website, and every subsequent SCP Foundation work has always fallen under the guise of the Creative Commons license, something the Backrooms creepypasta never did.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The new spending comes as the group pauses ads in Georgia and North Carolina, states where Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Roy Cooper are favored to win.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The letter states that Streets and Sanitation has inspected the property multiple times over several years and issued multiple warnings and citations, and that the violations continued despite the fines being paid.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airs. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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