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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
Rapid intensification poses a challenge for forecasters because storms that gather a lot of strength in a short amount of time can pose a serious threat to those in the path of the storm and its impacts. Maureen McCann, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025 Insular cultures produce groupthink, don’t evolve as fast as others, and thus pose an existential threat to organizations. George Bradt, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
Lewis Hamilton, another co-chair, struck a heroic pose in an enchanted forest-like scene cast in twilight tones. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 7 May 2025 In the video, Kidman has some fun on a balcony overlooking the ocean, hitting a series of playful poses and shaking out her near platinum blonde hair as the sea air sends a gust of wind her way. Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pose
Noun
  • Golden Gate Park, which sits in the city's center and was a magnet for rock and theater performances of all kinds in the '60s, will host three shows by Dead & Company – the name given to what remains of the original band plus current guests – at the park's Polo Fields Aug. 1, 2 and 3.
    Marco della Cava, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The recordings stem from the opening stop of Springsteen and the E Street Band’s 2025 run of shows, which kicked off with three nights in a row in the English city.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • For the past two years, a prototype facade has been in use on a greenhouse in the University of Freiburg's Botanical Garden, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
    Ben Coxworth May 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
  • When a simple mistake turns into a fatal error for one of his patients, Sam tries to bury the truth under a facade of perfection, knowing that a lifetime of deceit is about to be exposed.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • The show’s divergence here is enormous, first by grounding Tommy in Jackson rather than as the leader of the violent excursion and secondly removing any guise about Ellie’s intentions.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
  • The kit is being sold under the ridiculous guise of an educational tool.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • After his arrest, Duffy had faked amnesia and sought asylum in a psychiatric hospital, where doctors prevented the police from interrogating him, but the pretense of the amnesia was exposed at the trial by his ex-wife and a friend.
    Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • May 8 Theft by false pretense: Someone contacted a Saratoga resident, claiming to be a member of the Federal Trade Commission.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • In this eerie tale about fear, lust, and female empowerment, the real question becomes whether this is an act of witchcraft—or a witch hunt.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
  • The shooting comes as Israel has launched another major offensive in the Gaza Strip in a war with Hamas that has heightened tensions across the Middle East and internationally and as antisemitic acts are on the rise.
    Maya Sweedler, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pose. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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