posturing

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈpɑstʃɜrɪŋ/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act of assuming a particular attitude or pose, especially one that is intended to impress or mislead others.; Behavior or speech that is intended to make people believe something that is not true, or to make people admire you; pretentious or insincere display.; The positioning or arrangement of the body or its parts in a particular way.; In medicine, an abnormal or involuntary body position assumed by a patient, often indicative of neurological damage.
  2. verb
    Present participle of 'posture'; to behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others.; Present participle of 'posture'; to place or arrange the body in a particular position.
  3. adjective
    Characterized by or involving pretentious or insincere behavior intended to impress.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable / uncountable Plural: postures 3rd sing.: postures Past: postured Past part.: postured Pres part.: posturing

Collocations

good posturebad posturebody posturepolitical posturingstrike a posturemaintain good posture

Derivatives

posturalposturer

Synonyms

stanceposepositioncarriagebearingattitude

Commonly confused

pose
EN: 'Pose' implies a deliberate, often temporary position adopted for effect; 'posture' refers more to habitual body alignment or a sustained attitude.
posturing
EN: 'Posturing' as a noun (gerund) emphasizes the act of adopting a false or exaggerated attitude, often with negative connotations of insincerity.

Spelling tips

EN: No common spelling issues. Note that 'posturing' as a noun (gerund) carries a negative connotation of insincere behavior, unlike the neutral noun 'posture'.

💬 Examples

  1. His tough talk was nothing but posturing to impress his peers.

  2. The politician's posturing on environmental issues was exposed when he was seen driving a gas-guzzling SUV.

  3. The dancer's posturing during the performance was both graceful and technically precise.

  4. The patient exhibited decerebrate posturing, suggesting severe brain injury.

  5. She was posturing as an expert in the field, but her lack of knowledge was quickly revealed.

  6. The model was posturing for the photographer in the studio.

  7. The debate was filled with posturing candidates who offered no real solutions.