manner

1
as in etiquette
manners plural personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting the young man's impeccable manners are an unmistakable sign of a good upbringing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in mode
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words the former doctor writes his novels very much in the manner of someone who is used to observing the smallest details

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun manner contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manner are bearing, carriage, demeanor, deportment, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

When can bearing be used instead of manner?

The meanings of bearing and manner largely overlap; however, bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When could carriage be used to replace manner?

The words carriage and manner are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

In what contexts can demeanor take the place of manner?

The synonyms demeanor and manner are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When is deportment a more appropriate choice than manner?

The words deportment and manner can be used in similar contexts, but deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to manner?

In some situations, the words mien and manner are roughly equivalent. However, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

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 manner Resembling a young Nana Mouskouri, The Voice graduate sings about the bond between Greek refugees and their homeland in a touching, if slightly mournful, manner. Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 13 May 2025 Instead, it may be retired in a manner similar to former President Ronald Reagan’s Boeing 707, which is now on display at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 13 May 2025 Duffy said that the FAA is closely working with Verizon and L3Harris to determine the underlying cause of the recurring telecommunications issues and address them in an expedited manner. Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 12 May 2025 The Empire is full of bickering bureaucrats, which is fun to watch though bad for getting the Death Star done in a timely manner, and Darth Vader power walks into scenes that both undermine his icon status yet also cement it. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for manner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manner
Noun
  • Between various lessons on packing, lodge etiquette on the trek to Base Camp, and where to ask for toilet paper, Coster returned again and again to reminders for the group to chill out and enjoy the journey.
    Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Airlines may need clearer guidelines on footwear etiquette to minimize in-flight conflicts.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Hard mode, for instance, increases resource scarcity and enemy aggression, offering a sterner test for seasoned players.
    Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
  • The Sky look to be in win-now mode, adding tenacious two-guard Ariel Atkins and giving a curtain call to Courtney Vandersloot.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • While a return to European competition of any kind would be something to heartily celebrate, playing in the third-tier Conference League’s qualifying rounds would somehow still feel like scant reward for a season that promised even more for so long.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • The new program at La Jolla High is believed to be the first of its kind in SDUSD’s La Jolla Cluster of schools.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • In contrast with Lutherans and other Reformation faiths, Calvinism insisted on discipline as a key method for unifying communities.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 9 May 2025
  • Use PayPal, Venmo, online banking or another accepted payment method to make a deposit of $5 or more.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • And while the score may indicate the Panthers dominated, the analytics and coach Paul Maurice’s postgame demeanor said otherwise.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • But despite her charming demeanor, the sweet girl has been waiting a long time for a place to call her own, the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) says.
    TJ Macias, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • But clearly, my frontal lobe has fully developed because now sweaters are as essential as, if not more than, tank tops and other styles.
    Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • Hitch mount: This requires a trailer hitch and comes in one of two styles (hanging and platform).
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • In the competitive world of alternative investments, SWI Group has distinguished itself through an approach that emphasizes local market knowledge as a key differentiator.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Our approach to ethical AI must be proactive rather than reactive, which means assessing every step for the potential to cause harm or ethical breaches at the planning stage.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • If cinema is going to survive, per McQuarrie, the players and studios involved have to prop each other rather than taking an attitude of crushing each other.
    Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 14 May 2025
  • The entire episode elicits the kind of pompous stench that has long prompted ill feelings toward Michigan — a sentiment magnified by the actions and attitudes that led to the investigation at hand.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Manner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manner. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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