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

And we, as hosts, have shown them that America is so much more than the sum of our current government’s policies and posturing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 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

If “The Christophers” is to be believed, art that tries to imitate a certain style is little more than hollow, emotionless posturing.

From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2026

"Do you know what? I might have just been posturing in that interview, 'cos I'm terrified of stuff like that," she says.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

After years of threats and insane posturing, it’s Fox’s early cancellation of Bunker that provokes North Korea’s supreme leader to action.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• charade
• cloak
• pretext
• semblance
• veneer