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

After more than a decade of posturing and power struggles - a soap opera of warring promoters, shifting managers, fractured television deals and failed negotiations - it has finally come down to this.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

It’s also possible that the hints about export controls are diplomatic posturing by the Chinese government, intended to discourage the U.S. from imposing any restrictions on its technological freedoms.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

Instead of being treated with the seriousness they deserve, these topics are handled by the exhibition as opportunities for posturing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

It will feature policy talk, political posturing and even, possibly, a significant discussion about our city’s future.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

Both of the men were rolling up their sleeves, huffing and posturing like a pair of alley cats.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

• charade
• cloak
• pretext
• semblance
• veneer