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
King’s full interview with Tenisha airs Thursday, July 23, on CBS Mornings. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness airs Fridays on HBO. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026 Season 3 airs weekly on Thursday evenings for a total of 10 episodes, with the finale dropping on September 4. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Fox execs, it has been reported, feel NBCU has maneuvered around the restrictions and has an unfair route to viewers through Peacock, an English-language service where Telemundo programming airs. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 July 2026 After premiere week, new episodes drop every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, while Unlocked airs Fridays. Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026 The Spanish-language broadcast airs on Telemundo and streams on Peacock. Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 9 July 2026 In the United States, the match airs on Fox in English and on Telemundo in Spanish. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 6 July 2026 There is no standardized way to calculate the worldwide audience for a tournament that airs on different channels and platforms across multiple countries. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Verb
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 Season one airs Tuesdays on Bravo, and has already filmed its first reunion, to air after the installment finishes airing. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 The show airs weekdays on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu. Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 29 June 2026 Fox airs the games and builds hours of programming around each match day, but digital media companies have also looked for their own ways to complement coverage of the world’s biggest sporting event. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026 The show also airs on the Paramount Network, but that’s mainly for new episodes. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026 The station airs Oceanside’s City Council and various commission meetings, and reports on local events. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airs
Noun
  • Boise State football held its summer media day on Wednesday afternoon, opening up coaches and 10 players to a cascade of questions, from in-depth positional breakdowns to each player’s favorite childhood TV show.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 July 2026
  • Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is home to the longest-running Polynesian show in the country.
    Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Released in May, the film adaptation stars Sally Field as Tova, Lewis Pullman as Cameron — a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family and finds an unexpected friendship with Tova — and Tony nominee Alfred Molina, who voices Marcellus.
    Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • The audiobook will feature eight stories narrated by Australian actress Miranda Tapsell (Sapphires), who voices Dougie’s mum in the uber popular kids franchise.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Cabins open to terraces overlooking the surrounding pines and exude a Wes Anderson summer camp vibe, with touches of industrial-style metal punctuating the wooden facades.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
  • The façade is the showpiece, but those oversize windows don’t hurt.
    Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • In one of Nolan’s subtle but important additions to Homer’s tale, all throughout the film, everyone expresses fears about the People from the Sea, this unseen menace terrorizing different towns.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Truly someone who has those types of values and expresses them very publicly.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Everything else is pretense; the diplomat is pretense; the Hand of the King, there’s a level of pretense; Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, there’s a level of pretense.
    Matt Minton, Variety, 20 July 2026
  • When Moore finally abandons the pretense and focuses in earnest on his presidential ambitions, the damage to Maryland will be incalculable and likely irreparable.
    Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • Soul Food & Culture elevates the sandwich with their secret spice blend that gives the catfish a savory flavor.
    Justin Brown, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
  • Shanahan already gives his defensive coordinators shocking autonomy.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • Somewhere between a sandal and a ballet flat, caged silhouettes come in all manner of guises.
    Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • Everything from the division of the Peaches and the Plums to Shamea’s tagline this season is a secret cry from Shamea to Porsha, begging for attention under the guise of her own emancipation.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Strategies + Advice A joint statement from 16 Nobel laureates and thousands of economists states AI could change the world economy faster than the Industrial Revolution.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The release states that Midwest Poultry is not aware of any specific illnesses linked to it's products, and its Texas farms are not distributing fresh eggs at this time.
    Mary Lyle, Arkansas Online, 23 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Airs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airs. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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