Demeanor | Meaning, Definition & Synonym
Demeanor is how you present yourself to others, including your actions but also your tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. In British English, the correct spelling is “demeanour.”
As a noun, demeanor is neutral; depending on context, it has a positive or negative connotation. If someone has a friendly demeanor, for instance, it means that they smile and nod as you talk to them or that they maintain eye contact. In contrast, a person of unfriendly demeanor will probably act in a cold and disinterested way, paying little attention to what you are saying.
We were greeted by a small woman of cheerful demeanor.
He has a shy demeanor and blushes when he has to give a presentation.
Demeanor meaning
The word “demeanor” originated in the late 15th century as “demenure,” meaning “conduct” or ”behavior.” Its roots trace to the Latin “minari,” meaning to “threaten” or “to drive a herd of cattle,” with the modern spelling influenced by nouns ending in -or or -our.
Your demeanor gives others an impression of your character and feelings. Because people often make judgments about us based on our demeanor, it is important that it reflects the situation or environment we are in. As a result, you might need to change or maintain your demeanor.
Demeanor synonyms
Demeanor has many possible synonyms. “Bearing,” “behavior,” and “conduct” are the closest ones because of their shared emphasis on outward presentation.
| Synonym | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bearing | A person’s way of moving and behaving, often emphasizing physical presence | The Duchess of Windsor’s bearing was elegant as she entered St. George’s Chapel. |
| Behavior | The way in which one conducts oneself in an observable way | Scientists are studying the behavior of dolphins in captivity. |
| Conduct | The way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation (formal) | The CEO’s personal conduct reflected poorly on the company. |
| Disposition | One’s characteristic attitude or mood | Her sunny disposition always helped her through tough times. |
| Attitude | The way a person thinks and behaves | He has a rebellious attitude and does not listen to his teachers |
| Manners | Personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by accepted social standards | In some countries, eating with your hands is considered poor table manners. |
QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you come up with even more synonyms for demeanor.
Frequently asked questions about demeanor
- Is demeanor a positive word?
-
Demeanor is a person’s appearance and behavior, and it can be either positive or negative. Examples of positive demeanor are “warm,” “pleasant,” and “composed.” On the contrary, “aggressive,” “arrogant,” or “cold” are examples of negative demeanor.
QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you find the right word for any context.
- How do you pronounce demeanor?
-
There are three syllables in demeanor. The emphasis is on the second syllable: [duh-mee-nr] .
