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pose

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verb (2)

pose

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pose contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pose are affectation, airs, air, and mannerism. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

When might affectation be a better fit than pose?

Although the words affectation and pose have much in common, affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

When could air be used to replace pose?

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

a traveler's sophisticated air

In what contexts can airs take the place of pose?

In some situations, the words airs and pose are roughly equivalent. However, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

Where would mannerism be a reasonable alternative to pose?

While in some cases nearly identical to pose, mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

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 pose
Verb
Leaks pose a potential danger to staff and shoppers. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025 Even when there is no actual war and the people assassinated—who are still unknown—pose no imminent threat to other people's lives. Mark Weisbrot, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
D4vd poses with 5 Gum during Interscope and Capitol Records Coachella Party 2025 on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 In another photo, Cardi struck a pose in her thong bodysuit and showed off her backside (massive peacock tattoo, and all) while standing alongside her album's latest cover and corresponding box set. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pose
Noun
  • The eligibility dates for the 2024 Emmy Awards apply to shows that aired between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • My weekend streaming guide is live, so be sure to check that out for some new show and movie ideas.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When Simone decides to grasp Kiki’s life for herself by starting an affair with Peter, though, Michaela’s beatific facade slips.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Today, its Portland stone façade and arched windows still speak to that Victorian grandeur, but inside the story has shifted.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • All this reintroduces the problem of arbitrary outcomes, in a different guise.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Unfortunately a recent deep fake has come in the guise of a friend.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • By showing both timelines, director Cato Kusters resists using Julian’s illness as a plot device, encouraging us to watch these women without the pretense of melodrama.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But not everyone accepts that pretense.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The attack was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could escalate tensions in a region already on edge.
    Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • KPop Demon Hunters transforms loving your favorite artist from a hobby into an act of creation itself.
    Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pose. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pose

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