semblance

1 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <tried to project some semblance of confidence even though public speaking terrified her> Synonyms act, airs, charade, disguise, facade (also façade), front, guise, playacting, pose, pretense (or pretence), put-on, masquerade, showRelated Words impersonation, performance, portrayal; image, persona; appearance, color, gloss; camouflage, cloak; affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile; betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness; excuse, pretextNear Antonyms bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness; artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté)

2 outward and often deceptive indication <a used-car dealer with only a semblance of honesty> Synonyms face, guise, name, outward, seeming, appearance, showRelated Words air, effect, impression; hint, implication, insinuation, resemblance, suggestion; affectation, demonstration, display, fiction, image, imitation, imposture, likeness, make-believe (also make-belief), pose, pretense (or pretence), representation, simulation; cloak, disguise, exterior, facade (also façade), front, gloss, mask, masquerade, patina, Potemkin village, shape, shell, surface, veneer