manner

Definition of mannernext
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 The manner of death remains under investigation by the Kane County Coroner, in cooperation with the Elgin Police Department. Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 22 June 2026 The official said that the military is operating in a defensive manner in Lebanon, which includes the right to respond to Hezbollah attacks. Arkansas Online, 21 June 2026 Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner. Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026 My job is to report in a timely manner on crime, mass shootings, war coverage, domestic and international affairs, pop culture and more. Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for manner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manner
Noun
  • That also comes down to Blackberry’s affable take on Southern-style etiquette—polite but authentic and real; formal when called for yet folksy and easygoing when appropriate.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2026
  • There's social etiquette and then there's Mama'n'em's etiquette.
    Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • The Act 4 update also introduces Retake, a 3v3 game mode focused on post-plant scenarios, and the Blackspyre Collection of skins, alongside a new battlepass.
    Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • And it is also written in the second person, also involves a complex mode of address.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • This one-of-a-kind woman heads the collection founded in its day by Emile Hermès (1871–1951)—an extraordinary cabinet of curiosities whose doors are occasionally opened to a select few on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
    Pierre Groppo, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
  • Earlier this year, Moderna’s data was at the center of a highly unusual public dispute as a then-top FDA official blocked the company’s application for its first-of-its-kind shot.
    Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • This is a natural mosquito control method.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 23 June 2026
  • That is hard to achieve in collaborations like film, television, and the Marvel method.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Woodard brings Anna to life with a smokey voice, a statuesque presence and an arch demeanor.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Twelve years later, there’s more salt and pepper in Rogen’s beard and more vinegar in his demeanor; the let-it-all-hang-out comic boisterousness of his Judd Apatow days has hardened into a shell of middle-aged aggression.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Cleage gives the women plenty of substance, though her novelistic mode — more telling than showing — deprives her drama of style.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • The food truck officially launched in 2021 and serves Filipino-style egg rolls, along with dishes such as chicken adobo and pancit, or Filipino-style noodles.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • In fact, the NFLPA filed an amicus brief effectively against Clarett, portraying him as an interloper of sorts.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 June 2026
  • At the time, the Bucks decided to spend that time as a fact-finding mission of sorts before pushing the negotiations into the summer.
    Eric Nehm, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • This isn't always the best approach, Aussem said.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • Eleventy’s Made in Italy offering across menswear and womenswear, the latter a burgeoning category, has thrived not just for its muted, easy-to-approach aesthetic, but also for smart pricing, catering to customers otherwise priced out by luxury megabrands.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Manner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manner. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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