mien

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mien contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mien are bearing, carriage, demeanor, deportment, and manner. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

When is it sensible to use bearing instead of mien?

In some situations, the words bearing and mien are roughly equivalent. However, bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

Where would carriage be a reasonable alternative to mien?

While in some cases nearly identical to mien, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When can demeanor be used instead of mien?

The words demeanor and mien can be used in similar contexts, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When could deportment be used to replace mien?

Although the words deportment and mien have much in common, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

When would manner be a good substitute for mien?

While the synonyms manner and mien are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

Examples 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 mien Come the crash of 2008, David’s leisure-world empire collapses, and Abraham’s patriarchal mien and tolerance turn to crabby solitude with the prospect of unloading their dream for pennies on the dollar. Gordon Cox, Variety, 2 Aug. 2024 Gone were the white medical coats and dour miens of Kinsey and Masters and Johnson. Louis Bayard, Washington Post, 15 July 2024 In mien, in dress, in catch phrase and in temperament. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024 Here, Judge Judy continues to mediate small claims cases that tackle issues such as child custody disputes and employment contracts, all while delivering her signature no-nonsense mien. James Mercadante, EW.com, 30 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for mien 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mien
Noun
  • Bailey herself is a shape-shifter of sorts, right on the border between child and teenager in age and, with her androgynous looks, occupying an ambiguous place between genders as well.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • The Grammy-winner dressed up in several different recognizable looks that Anderson has sported through the years.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Nix, a captain and budding leader, on Wednesday took a long, deep breath before answering a question about Forsyth and his demeanor since Sunday.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
  • People will be able to spot that straight away, dazzling demeanor or not.
    Julia Sullivan, SELF, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Unusual Machines continues to focus on integrating its recent acquisitions and expanding its presence in the commercial drone industry.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Soccer fans filed into the Stade de France amid a heavy police presence.
    Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • That attitude ties in with another of the DOL’s principles, which recommends that AI should be used only to enable workers, which, in turn, could improve their job quality.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Read the full analysis here. 2:03 Broad economic discontent and sharp divisions about the nation’s future mark voter attitudes nationally in ABC News' preliminary exit poll results.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Apparently, my daughter didn’t finish all of the food on her plate, and the mom felt that was incredibly rude and a sign of poor manners.
    Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Effective facilitation is key to this activity and will help organizations explore creative solutions in an objective manner.
    Swapna Sathyan, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Which is why those Big Noon appearances are so important.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
  • During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, president-elect Donald Trump criticized the Chips Act which was passed by the Biden administration in 2022 — partly to spur domestic advanced chip manufacturing.
    Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near mien

Cite this Entry

“Mien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mien. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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