posturing

pos·ture  (pschr)

n.

1.

a. A position of the body or of body parts: a sitting posture.

b. An attitude; a pose: assumed a posture of angry defiance.

2. A characteristic way of bearing one's body; carriage: stood with good posture.

3. Relative placement or arrangement: the posture of the buildings on the land.

4. A stance or disposition with regard to something: "Those bases are essential to our military posture in the Middle East" (Gerard Smith).

5. A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behavior; an overall attitude.

v. pos·tured, pos·tur·ing, pos·tures

v.intr.

1. To assume an exaggerated or unnatural pose or mental attitude; attitudinize.

2. To assume a pose.

v.tr.

To put into a specific posture; pose.

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[French, from Italian postura, from Latin positra, position, from positus, past participle of pnere, to place; see apo- in Indo-European roots.]

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postur·al adj.

postur·er, postur·ist n.

Synonyms: posture, attitude, carriage, pose¹, stance
These nouns denote a position of the body and limbs: erect posture; an attitude of prayer; dignified carriage; a defiant pose; an athlete's alert stance.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

posturing - adopting a vain conceited posture conceitedness, vanity, conceit - the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride