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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The show will be available to stream with a regular Hulu subscription Sunday, the day after a new episode airs. —Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025

Breakthrough Women in Science & Medicine is streaming online and airs on PBS. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 3 Oct. 2025

Hiring Weiss and choosing not to bring back comedian Stephen Colbert, whose late night show airs on CBS as well, have also been taken as signs internally that the network is hoping to play a bit nicer with the political right. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025

The Kelly Clarkson Show airs weekdays on syndication. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025

Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights (check local listings). —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

Paramount+ Essential subscribers can stream the day after the episode airs. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

Verb

The new documentary series, Breakthrough Women in Science and Medicine, a new documentary series from the American Medical Women’s Association and Capital Media Group that airs on PBS, is all about brilliant women scientists who are pushing their respective fields forward. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 3 Oct. 2025

Earlier this month, Doja Cat was also announced as the musical guest for the upcoming 51st season premiere of Saturday Night Live alongside host Bad Bunny, which airs this Saturday (October 4). —Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 29 Sep. 2025

While your mattress airs out, or the baking soda is sitting on the mattress, move on to wiping the surfaces. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays — and all episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock. —Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025

Upon returning from a commercial break on Thursday morning, the Oscar-winning Ghost actress and Sister Act star expressed her apparent disinterest in discussing the reality dating show, which also airs on The View's parent network ABC. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025

Jimmy Kimmel Live resumed production after a tense week for ABC, which airs the show, and its parent company, Disney. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2025

Lyonne leads Rian Johnson’s Peacock detective series Poker Face, which also airs on Sky, and created Netflix’s Russian Doll with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025

The show is two episodes in and airs new episodes every Friday. —Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025