for the sake of appearances
idiom
: because other people think it is the proper thing to do
She is only attending the banquet for the sake of appearances.
Examples of for the sake of appearances in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Promoting peace and calming the region, even if only for the sake of appearances, became a Saudi interest; hence the birth of the Arab Peace Initiative (API).
—
Moshe Yaalon, Foreign Affairs, 26 Jan. 2018
Those are events planned for the sake of appearances, for the sake of presentation in the media and for the purpose of being commented upon.
—Washington Post, 30 June 2024
The more these can be aligned with allies, the better, but as overseer of the global reserve currency, the U.S. is in a unique position to make unilateral impact and should not hold back for the sake of appearances of solidarity.
—Nate Sibley, National Review, 23 Feb. 2022
The Jets should not rush him out there simply for the sake of appearances.
—J.p. Pelzman, Forbes, 12 May 2021
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Moshe Yaalon, Foreign Affairs, 26 Jan. 2018
Those are events planned for the sake of appearances, for the sake of presentation in the media and for the purpose of being commented upon.
—Washington Post, 30 June 2024
The more these can be aligned with allies, the better, but as overseer of the global reserve currency, the U.S. is in a unique position to make unilateral impact and should not hold back for the sake of appearances of solidarity.
—Nate Sibley, National Review, 23 Feb. 2022
The Jets should not rush him out there simply for the sake of appearances.
—J.p. Pelzman, Forbes, 12 May 2021
Cite this Entry
“For the sake of appearances.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20the%20sake%20of%20appearances. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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