AFFECTATION Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of affectation are airs , air , mannerism , and pose . While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere. // the posh accent is an affectation

Q: When would 'air' be a good substitute for 'affectation'?

While the synonyms air and affectation are close in meaning, air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life. // a traveler's sophisticated air

Q: When is it sensible to use 'airs' instead of 'affectation'?

The meanings of airs and affectation largely overlap; however, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness. // snobbish airs

Q: When can 'mannerism' be used instead of 'affectation'?

Although the words mannerism and affectation have much in common, mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit. // gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Q: When is 'pose' a more appropriate choice than 'affectation'?

The synonyms pose and affectation are sometimes interchangeable, but pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others. // her shyness was just a pose

affectation

noun

ˌa-ˌfek-ˈtā-shən

Definition of affectation

as in arrogance

the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case a woman of great affectation at social gatherings

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How does the noun affectation contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of affectation are airs, air, mannerism, and pose. While all these words mean "an adopted way of speaking or behaving," affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

When would air be a good substitute for affectation?

While the synonyms air and affectation are close in meaning, air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

When is it sensible to use airs instead of affectation?

The meanings of airs and affectation largely overlap; however, airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

When can mannerism be used instead of affectation?

Although the words mannerism and affectation have much in common, mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

When is pose a more appropriate choice than affectation?

The synonyms pose and affectation are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 affectation Assemble a scrapbook or photo album to curate your personal affectations, trinkets, and memories. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 26 July 2026 The steering wheel is flat at the top and bottom—a race-car affectation that feels correct in here—and has a button for the Boost function and another to adjust the aero, but is otherwise refreshingly simple. — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 7 July 2026 In the wrong hands, those points of reference could land like an affectation, but instead, the band’s embrace of them feels genuine. — Nick Laskin, Pitchfork, 20 May 2026 The 33-year-old Indianapolis native can trace its origins to a natural inclination toward performing and a lifelong admiration of Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric, but there's no step-by-step guide on how Sullivan mastered the affectation. — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for affectation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectation

Noun

Ilya is looking for work as an assistant, and the professor, with his dandyish nerd arrogance, tells him to look at a paper he’s written and come back in a few days.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
This standalone novel looks at the cult of celebrity, the bond among parents and children, entitlement and arrogance, all wrapped into a tightly wound plot that’s an evocative historical steeped in the Great Depression.

— Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogance

Noun

The film, which world premiered at the Berlinale, turns artistic pretension, female friendship and domestic chaos into a comic ensemble piece.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Their trading volume, political influence and public profiles have expanded — as have their pretensions.

— W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of pretension

Noun

The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful—don't expect any pretense here, just genuine (and enjoyable) engagement.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Tom’s frugality also lured Nancy into the business on the pretense of spending more time together.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretense

Noun

My suite was beyond spacious, with a full entryway with desk and wetbar giving way to a seating area; large, plush bed; then a closet and vanity area leading into a massive bathroom—which had a full soaking tub and two pedestal sinks.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
HomePop Clover Shaped Ottoman A decorative pouf can wear many hats—vanity seating, an extra chair for company, or even a foot stool in lieu of a chaise.

— Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of vanity

Noun

Deafheaven have long balanced playful disdain for black metal purism with a deeper understanding of the genre than either critics or acolytes of 2013’s Sunbather gave them credit for.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
But today, Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2 to 1 in the state, and the current White House occupant shares a mutual disdain with the vast majority of Golden State voters.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of disdain

Noun

Chelsea have huge numerical superiority in their own penalty area as Kevin Schade catapults one in from the Brentford left, but only Cole Palmer is in position to contest any second ball out on its edge.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to prohibit persecution.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of superiority

Noun

An emotional buildup isn’t new for them, but the clarity with which its alt-rock grandiosity is captured is—a result of trusting producer Alex Farrar, at Asheville’s Drop of Sun Studio, for the first time.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
Griffith’s own work looks stiff and sentimental, weighed down with melodrama and grandiosity that may have seemed dated even in 1915.

— Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 June 2026

Definition of grandiosity

Noun

The results were similar when asked about how an end to the Iran war and a sharp drop in inflation might affect their midterm choices.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Parking was no more than $5 — that would be $10 today, after inflation — and the Dodgers nurtured the next generation of fans by offering free tickets to A students and a kids’ fan club that included six tickets for $2.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of inflation

Browse Nearby Words

affect

affectation

affected

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Cite this Entry

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“Affectation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectation. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of affectation

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Synonyms of affectation

noun

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'Affection' vs. 'Affectation'

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