MANNERISM Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'mannerism' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mannerism are affectation , airs , air , and pose . While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit. // gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Q: When would 'affectation' be a good substitute for 'mannerism'?

In some situations, the words affectation and mannerism are roughly equivalent. However, affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere. // the posh accent is an affectation

Q: When can 'air' be used instead of 'mannerism'?

The words air and mannerism can be used in similar contexts, but air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life. // a traveler's sophisticated air

Q: When could 'airs' be used to replace 'mannerism'?

Although the words airs and mannerism have much in common, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness. // snobbish airs

Q: When is 'pose' a more appropriate choice than 'mannerism'?

The words pose and mannerism are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others. // her shyness was just a pose

mannerism

noun

ˈma-nə-ˌri-zəm

Definition of mannerism

as in trick

an odd or peculiar habit quirky mannerisms such as toying with her hair and tapping her toes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun mannerism contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mannerism are affectation, airs, air, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When would affectation be a good substitute for mannerism?

In some situations, the words affectation and mannerism are roughly equivalent. However, affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

When can air be used instead of mannerism?

The words air and mannerism can be used in similar contexts, but air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

When could airs be used to replace mannerism?

Although the words airs and mannerism have much in common, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

When is pose a more appropriate choice than mannerism?

The words pose and mannerism are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 mannerism This portrait of wannabe bohemians and intellectuals who adopt the fashions, mannerisms, and artistic practices of an earlier time has its own essential timelessness. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 In a new video, the 13-year-old royal drew an uncanny likeness to his grandmother—down to her mannerisms. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026 What the audience witnesses is not a flashback, but rather the mannerisms of a person recounting an experience, the reaction of the person listening, and the distance between the two. — Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 27 July 2026 Modi’s gestures, pauses and mannerisms have been turned into viral edits that turn his own words into political jokes. — ABC News, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mannerism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mannerism

Noun

The Cinderella dress that Kaitlyn Argyriou’s mother had sewn for her as a child and which Argyriou’s daughter, Avery, 4, had planned to wear trick-or-treating in Colorado Springs on Halloween.

— Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
The tips and tricks for maintaining hosiery that used to be passed down by family and friends are in danger of being lost to time and ever-changing fashion trends.

— Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of trick

Noun

Other soccer-like traits at Ryan Field include a very high proportion of the seats being under cover and the striking sight that what Americans across the land have come to know as the Upper Deck experience just does not exist here.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
His ability to square the ball up and not chase out of the strike zone are probably his best traits.

— Jim Bowden, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of trait

Noun

What’s more useful in understanding the world is a straightforward accounting of it—a kind of double-entry inventory of its characteristics.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Tactile sensor data has very different characteristics to the image data VLAs are normally trained on, and tactile datasets lag far behind the internet-scale of many vision and language datasets.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

Looking for a solution to a nagging health issue or bad habit?

— USA TODAY, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Differing opinions, interests, schedules, habits, and cleanliness standards can all stack up to turn what was supposed to be a fun group trip into something entirely the opposite.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of habit

Noun

Welcome to The Athletic’s data notebook, a periodic look at the key trends, standout figures and tactical quirks shaping the Premier League season.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The birds — which were Neisen’s idea — are usually confined to the rooftop of the converted 19th-century industrial space, a surprising country quirk in the heart of the city designed by landscaping firm Brooklyn Grange.

— Tanya Fevzi, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of quirk

Noun

Nor is Gadot a performer inclined to lend much more than athleticism to a role that could use some warmth and idiosyncrasy to color its rather generic action-hero gist.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
There’s no better way to quickly learn a person’s idiosyncrasies than living with them.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of idiosyncrasy

Noun

In that context, the extra lending since the end of June and the peculiarities of that Gordon transfer instalment make plenty of sense, as the club continues to lose cash each season, even as underlying profitability measures are much improved.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
But is this more a general rule than an American peculiarity?

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of peculiarity

Noun

Everyone knows the outdated and offensive characterization of a cat lady — a stereotype conjuring images of solitude, eccentricities and probably cartons of ice cream.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Bring an equal eccentricity to your interiors with a Nordic Knots area rug.

— Madeline Fass, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of eccentricity

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“Mannerism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mannerism. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mannerism

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