SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
mannerism
noun
A distinctive, often habitual way of speaking, moving, or behaving.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Characteristic way of behaving
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA mannerism may be unconscious; affectation specifically implies an assumed or exaggerated manner.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See mannerism in use
The actor copied the character's small mannerism of straightening his cuffs.
When a guest missed the beginning of the college radio workshop, Tessa gave an impromptu introduction with only a moment to gather her thoughts. A spontaneous laugh followed when she noticed that both speakers had brought the same unusual notebook. During playback, she also heard a mannerism: she began nearly every answer with the same small throat-clearing sound.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license