Skip to main content
mien

mien

3 9.1
A person's look and behavior that shows their feelings or character
  • noun
  • /miːn/
  • Literature
: actitud
  • The general's stern mien commanded respect from the troops.
  • Mien tradition
  • Mien people
  • Mien culture

Examples

  • But his grave, dignified mien never faltered.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • There was a mien of nonchalance about them.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • My mien was serious, grave, and fearless as I advanced on my enemy.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • All of the sadness, the loss of his power of concentration, was gone from Dickens's mien.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Others of sunnier mien may be more optimistic concerning their prospects in the state of nature.

    Academic text (1990)
  • But in the curator's mien, Haseltine detected unusual agitation.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • His target—a brooding, middle-aged man of dignified mien and expensive clothing—seemed utterly oblivious to the verbal storm heading his way.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Despite his cheerful words, his mien revealed a deep sadness.

  • Her delighted mien at the surprise party showed how much she appreciated her friends.

Synonyms

demeanor
vsmien
  • US
82 4.9

The way a person behaves toward other people

is broader covering appearance and manner that reveal inner character or mood
29 1.8

A look or movement on the face that shows feelings

covers overall manner and lasting appearance, not only brief feature movements
countenance
vsmien
  • Formal
19 7.2

A person's face or the expression on it that shows mood

is broader covering whole manner and bearing beyond the face
bearing
vsmien
12 5.3

The way a person holds their body and shows confidence

includes wider manner and appearance that reveal character or mood
comportment
vsmien
  • Formal
3 8.2

A person's way of behaving, especially calm and formal in public

is more general applying to manner and appearance in everyday situations
aspect
vsmien
3 3.4

The look on someone's face that shows their feelings

includes whole manner and bearing revealing character beyond a facial part

Antonyms

36 3.9

An outward appearance that hides someone's real identity or intentions

How Noticeable

presence
57 5.9
mien
  • Literature
3 9.1
bearing
12 5.3
demeanor
  • US
82 4.9
manner
106 1.0

Surface Forms

mien singular
mien plural

Etymology

Mien comes from an old French word mine that meant 'face' or 'appearance'. So a person's mien is the look or way they carry themselves that shows their 'mood' or character.