affectations
Insincere behavioral flourishes
Affectations are behaviors, mannerisms, or speech patterns adopted artificially to impress others.
The word carries judgment—affectations are pretentious by definition, attempts to seem more sophisticated, cultured, or interesting than one naturally is: His British accent is pure affectation; he grew up in Ohio.
What reads as affectation to one person may be genuine style to another.
Distinctive personal habit
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- contrivanceClever invention or scheme
- pretentiousnessShowy self-importance
- unnaturalnessState of seeming contrived
stiltedness · artifice · airs · put-on · phoniness · insincerity · falseness · studied
Preference for privileged rule
- hauteurOverbearing pride and aloofness
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- airsPretentious behavioral displays
disdain · aloofness · pretentiousness · pomposity · self-importance · snootiness · haughtiness · loftiness
False outward appearance
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- poseDeliberate bodily arrangement
- guiseExternal manner shown
feigning · sham · imposture · playacting · simulation · pretending · false front · veneer
Ostentatious display quality
- flamboyanceShowy, confident style
- flashinessOstentatious showiness
- gaudinessTasteless, excessive ornamentation
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
swagger · pomp · exhibitionism · grandiosity · ornateness · embellishment · flourish · flair
Sensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- overactingExcessive theatrical performance
- hammingExaggerated theatrical performance
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- dramaticsTheatrical art or behavior
histrionics · emoting · camp · mugging · flamboyance · performance · showmanship · scenery-chewing
mannerism
Distinctive personal habit
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- contrivanceClever invention or scheme
- pretentiousnessShowy self-importance
unnaturalness · stiltedness · artifice · airs · put-on · phoniness · insincerity · falseness · studied · calculated
elitism
Preference for privileged rule
- hauteurOverbearing pride and aloofness
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
airs · disdain · aloofness · pretentiousness · pomposity · self-importance · snootiness · haughtiness · loftiness · nose-in-the-air
façade
False outward appearance
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- poseDeliberate bodily arrangement
guise · feigning · sham · imposture · playacting · simulation · pretending · false front · veneer · show
showiness
Ostentatious display quality
- flamboyanceShowy, confident style
- flashinessOstentatious showiness
- gaudinessTasteless, excessive ornamentation
grandstanding · swagger · pomp · exhibitionism · grandiosity · ornateness · embellishment · flourish · flair · peacocking
melodrama
Sensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- overactingExcessive theatrical performance
- hammingExaggerated theatrical performance
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
dramatics · histrionics · emoting · camp · mugging · flamboyance · performance · showmanship · scenery-chewing · drama
affectationsgenuineness
Quality of being real
authenticity · sincerity · naturalness · true nature · realness
affectationsspontaneity
Acting without forethought
naturalness · instinct · unselfconsciousness · ease · effortlessness
affectationssimplicity
Lack of complexity
unpretentiousness · plainness · modesty · humility · directness