Showing results for "posturing"

• present participle of posture.

posturing

American  

[pos-cher-ing] / ˈpɒs tʃər ɪŋ /

noun

1. speech or action that is artificial, hypocritical, or calculated to mislead.

   I'm fed up with the reaching-across-the-aisle posturing intended to make politicians seem like they’re working hard for bipartisan reform.

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adjective

1. engaging in or characterized by such speech or behavior.

   He cynically believes that anybody trying to live up to an ideal is either a posturing liar or a simple-minded fool.

Etymology

Origin of posturing

First recorded in 1620–30; postur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; postur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

posturing

A source within the department called some of Reforms proposals "empty posturing".

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

As a signal to markets that Tokyo’s limited tools are less limited than they look, it is shrewd posturing at no cost.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

How many pre-fight interviews now involved personal insults, aggressive posturing, the desire to settle a score—how many post-fight speeches involved aggressive call-outs, rather than thank-yous to their coaches or families or God.

From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026

After last week’s debate, there was lots of social media posturing about who won and who trolled whom the best.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

Sometimes dogs clear across the kennel will hold their bones up in the air, look at each other, raise their hair, and start growling at each other, posturing and bragging about their bones.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• charade
• cloak
• pretext
• semblance
• veneer