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 Russell’s powerful, at times operatic, vocals and energetic stage presence proved the perfect foil for Ron’s distinctly quirky mien and adroit facility with words and keys. Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025 But that's just the beginning of the modern-day princess mien. Marci Robin, Allure, 7 Apr. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for mien
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mien
Noun
  • Other researchers took a look at the data and found that inorganic processes or terrestrial contamination could replicate all the evidence from the meteorite.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • In writer-director Christian Ditter’s glossy take on the fantastical story about the preciousness of time, an enigmatic red-haired girl named Momo (Alexa Goodall) lives inside the amphitheater of an unnamed European city (perhaps closest in look to Rome).
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Beneath her white coat and calm demeanor lived a woman weathered by trauma, grief, and emotional abandonment.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Bryan Medina Hernandez, Gallatin High Described as a strong student, musician, and leader who is respected by peers and teachers because of his respectful demeanor and work ethic, Bryan participates in the marching, concert, jazz band and pep bands.
    Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With the return of Worthy, whose tremendous rookie year was punctuated with his eight-catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the otherwise abominable Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, everything else was both more in its place and expanded through his presence.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Benito is ‘truly inspiring’ Some Super Bowl officials commented on Bad Bunny's presence at the next edition of the major sporting event.
    Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The policies largely have support from the public, reflecting a major shift in the attitude of Florida residents and their priorities in recent years.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • As of right now, Järnkrok’s efforts will be aided by his attitude.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
  • In August, Hron says the online research tool Westlaw unveiled Deep Research, an agentic workflow that can plan, review, and strategize legal research in a manner that emulates human work.
    John Kell, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Stewart made three appearances on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City last week and joined the Dodgers in Arizona for the series against the Diamondbacks.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Slaten entered Friday having pitched in the seventh inning or later in 32 of his 35 appearances this season.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mien. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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