air 1 of 2

1
as in melody
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect played a lively air on his fiddle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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air

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun air contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of air are affectation, airs, mannerism, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

In what contexts can affectation take the place of air?

The words affectation and air can be used in similar contexts, but affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

When would airs be a good substitute for air?

While in some cases nearly identical to air, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

When is mannerism a more appropriate choice than air?

While the synonyms mannerism and air are close in meaning, mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When could pose be used to replace air?

In some situations, the words pose and air are roughly equivalent. However, pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

Examples of air in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In Tehran, the Iranian capital, the sound of explosions could be heard, with state-run media there initially acknowledging the blasts and saying some of the sounds came from air defense systems around the city. Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024 Unlike the opener, the Lakers gave Davis air support from the outside, making 14 of 27 shots from three-point range, including 13 for 22 after the first quarter. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
The Real Full Monty special, airing Monday, Dec. 9, at 8/7c. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 25 Oct. 2024 During an appearance alongside Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton on the Young Man and the Three podcast, the former United States President aired his grievances regarding the NBA All-Star Game, which has drawn increasing criticism in recent years. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for air 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'air.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near air

Cite this Entry

“Air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/air. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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