mien

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mien contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mien are bearing, carriage, demeanor, deportment, and manner. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

When is it sensible to use bearing instead of mien?

In some situations, the words bearing and mien are roughly equivalent. However, bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

Where would carriage be a reasonable alternative to mien?

While in some cases nearly identical to mien, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When can demeanor be used instead of mien?

The words demeanor and mien can be used in similar contexts, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When could deportment be used to replace mien?

Although the words deportment and mien have much in common, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

When would manner be a good substitute for mien?

While the synonyms manner and mien are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

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 mien Unlike Rhoades, a vituperative colossus, however, Williams brings a steely determination and a Joe Friday, just-the-facts mien to his lawyering in the court of public opinion. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 Perhaps Dylan’s hamburger waiter mien can be attributed to his lack of connection to something greater than himself. Samantha Allen, Them, 25 Feb. 2025 Bostwick grew up in Wyoming and cultivated a down-to-earth mien. Katie Roiphe Samantha Desz Krish Seenivasan Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 His nasal Midwestern cadence, earnest mien, and silver pompadour were as recognizable as Alfred Hitchcock’s voice, chins, and silhouette. Barry Blitt, airmail.news, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mien
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mien
Noun
  • For an increasing number of companies, reasoning models (AI that thinks through problems rather than just following commands) are making traditional prospecting look as outdated as a Rolodex.
    Aditya Lahiri, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Here's a deeper look at Hughesnet's satellite home internet plans.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • When the dentist came back, his demeanor had changed.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
  • Björn Borg, with his headbands and ice-cold demeanor, and Arthur Ashe, with his academic cool and understated elegance, became icons whose style outlasted their careers.
    Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • What steps to follow when driving in the rain? Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025
  • On the other hand, a reactive result means that the test showed a reaction, suggesting the presence of HIV antigens or antibodies in your sample.
    Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • This shift in the cat's demeanor resonated with viewers who recognized the familiar orange cat attitude.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Perhaps the attitude is that, as the tech sector caused the problem and is profiting from it, the tech sector should sort it out.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Consider the distinct strengths: Neural AI: Excels at pattern recognition and learning from vast unstructured datasets, often in a largely unsupervised manner, leading to emergent capabilities in language and reasoning.
    Anuradha Weeraman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Collaboration will be key to establishing the regulations that define the ethical use of AI and ensure it is utilized in a manner that contributes to societal well-being.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Ten of his 26 Premier League appearances last season were at right-back or left-back.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • On June 24, at the Tight Ends and Friends benefit concert, Swift made a surprise appearance.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 26 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Mien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mien. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mien

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!