AIRS Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of airs are affectation , air , mannerism , and pose . While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness. // snobbish airs

Q: Where would 'affectation' be a reasonable alternative to 'airs'?

The meanings of affectation and airs largely overlap; however, affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere. // the posh accent is an affectation

Q: In what contexts can 'air' take the place of 'airs'?

In some situations, the words air and airs are roughly equivalent. However, air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life. // a traveler's sophisticated air

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

The words mannerism and airs can be used in similar contexts, but mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit. // gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Q: When might 'pose' be a better fit than 'airs'?

While the synonyms pose and airs are close in meaning, pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others. // her shyness was just a pose

airs 1 of 2

noun

plural of air

as in show

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive ever since she joined the country club she's been putting on airs of being too "high society" for us ordinary folks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

airs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of air

as in voices

to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) suggested we air any complaints about the seating arrangements to the person who actually planned the event

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun airs contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of airs are affectation, air, mannerism, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

Where would affectation be a reasonable alternative to airs?

The meanings of affectation and airs largely overlap; however, affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

In what contexts can air take the place of airs?

In some situations, the words air and airs are roughly equivalent. However, air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

When could mannerism be used to replace airs?

The words mannerism and airs can be used in similar contexts, but mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When might pose be a better fit than airs?

While the synonyms pose and airs are close in meaning, 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 airs

Noun

Episode one of the eight-episode season airs November 1 on HBO Max. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 With performer lineup updates rolling out throughout August, there's now a clearer picture of what viewers can expect when the live broadcast airs September 3 from the Starlite Auditorium in Marbella, Spain. — Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 McAfee is expected to continue his daily talk show that airs on ESPN and other platforms. — Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The ad airs as Hinojosa, a state lawmaker, has aggressively looked to exploit an undercurrent of discontent in rural, Republican strongholds over data centers’ perceived threat to rural life, ranchland and dwindling water supplies. — Marc Levy, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 Seinfeld airs on Comedy Central, nightly on TV Land and occasionally on other Paramount cable networks. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 An encore of the broadcast airs Saturday, August 15 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. — Lauren Clark, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 How to watch Shark Week 2026 Shark Week 2026 airs on the Discovery Channel while streaming on Max and Discovery+ from Sunday, July 26, through Saturday, August 1. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 July 2026 The challenges are where most of the drama goes down, but the show also recruited none other than Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, to serve as a guest judge for an episode that airs on July 26, 2026. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 July 2026

Verb

Moreno is mum about what transpired at the reunion, which airs on Monday, August 31, but says that Dean approached her in the hallway to clear the air. — Paula Mejía, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026 The popular reality program that airs three times a week on CBS is a one-of-a-kind social experiment where 16 strangers are locked in a house together for the summer. — Matt Minton, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 For $6/month, viewers can watch all out-of-market live preseason action on NFL+, unless the game airs on a national network, as is the case Thursday night when ESPN covers Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders’ trip to play the Houston Texans. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The series airs every Tuesday evening and then streams after that. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The combat and self-defense competition series, which airs on YouTube and across social media has generated 150M views online and has run for three seasons. — Peter White, Deadline, 17 July 2026 The new episode of Most Extreme Humans airs Wednesday, July 15 at 9 pm ET/PT on TLC. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 However, the finale typically airs in late September or early October. — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Season one airs Tuesdays on Bravo, and has already filmed its first reunion, to air after the installment finishes airing. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for airs

Noun

In addition to Broadway, the show has played in nine countries across four continents since making its West End debut in 2019.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Early in the show, Styles thanked opening act Jamie XX and then took a moment to acknowledge a full-circle moment on this opening night.

— Karla Cote, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of show

Verb

Bauza also voices both of the leads, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, in the last Looney Tunes feature, The Day the Earth Blew Up.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Groff voices Kristoff, the endearing, odd ice miner who emerges as a surprising love interest for Anna in the first film.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of voices

Noun

The two-family home, designed by the Swiss architect Inès Lamunière, with a severe white stucco and glass façade, highlighter-orange doors, and twisting form, stood out in a neighborhood of 19th-century brownstones and multifamily brick buildings.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet behind the spectacle, the biggest symbols of their supposedly limitless riches were a facade to make their lives appear better than reality, according to the brothers’ own lawyers.

— Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of facade

Verb

Linney’s Guardian tries to draw out some resentment from her new candidate, but John expresses (or feigns) sympathy for Hal, who was betrayed by his father figure Sinestro, an experience John likens to his own complicated upbringing.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Psalm 23, Biblical poem in the book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible that expresses trust and confidence in God and his care.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of expresses

Noun

Behind closed doors, Chloe gets hired by Melody under the pretense that Chloe is helping her teacher’s illiterate husband learn how to read.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
This entire argument has been under the pretense that the Steelers will need a win — and Rudolph will deliver it.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pretense

Verb

The delicate shape still nods to classic ballet flats, but the slight heel gives everything a little more polish, making the pairing feel less Sunday lunch with your nan and more Copenhagen Fashion Week.

— Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026
The deal gives the United States 55% effective output of the new private company, including an ownership stake and rights to buy oil at cost.

— Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of gives

Noun

Throughout the weekend, Dudamel embraced the worlds of Hollywood, Latin music in many guises and old-fashioned rock.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
With their traditional, legacy rivals — the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur — in various guises of transition, Arsenal are suddenly the team to beat and the Emirates is suddenly a library of sound; noise please.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of guise

Verb

The judge found that the three did, in fact, violate the charter, which states that council members may not interfere with appointments or removals in the city manager’s office, or give orders to the city manager’s subordinates.

— Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Colossal also states that competition dashboards and profile pages are taken down after the campaign concludes.

— Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of states

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“Airs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airs. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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