1
as in pretense
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in appearance
outward and often deceptive indication
a used-car dealer with only a semblance of honesty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of semblance
Moscow lacked police, basic services, any semblance of a functional government.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
At least some semblance of production from the outfield, largely entwined with the bottom of the order, that had been so meager last year.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Airports around the country also reportedly began returning to some semblance of normalcy.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of them, as is the case with many Arab communities, are rooted in communal living, often piecemealing some semblance of a family with other diaspora communities.
—Danny Hajjar, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semblance
Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
At least some semblance of production from the outfield, largely entwined with the bottom of the order, that had been so meager last year.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Airports around the country also reportedly began returning to some semblance of normalcy.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of them, as is the case with many Arab communities, are rooted in communal living, often piecemealing some semblance of a family with other diaspora communities.
—Danny Hajjar, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semblance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for semblance
Noun
-
On the day of Lincoln’s election, the Wide Awakes patrolled polling places under the pretense of protecting democracy, while opponents viewed it as voter intimidation.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities said the gun had been purchased under false pretenses in Indiana.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Martínez had four Champions Cup starts and made another four appearances as a substitute.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
Making his first appearance since the eighth inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Snell showed rust early, allowing a leadoff single to Mauricio Dubón and walking Drake Baldwin.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Historic preservation is often dismissed as nostalgia, the hobby of people who prefer old facades to modern needs.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
My mosaic facade, titled Human Dignity Shall Be Inviolable, covers the German pavilion at scale.—
Pablo Larios,
Artforum,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Every new face who shows up to the Broncos’ rookie minicamp has their own approach to pre-draft conditioning, leaving them in various stages of physical readiness for a three-day intensive weekend of football.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
That’s particularly noteworthy with sloths, with faces configured in a permanently benevolent expression.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Turner sold his business to Time Warner in 1996 and his operation has continued in one guise or another since then.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Farage has been through various guises.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
That game, a 34-31 Wildcats win in the first year of the Shedeur Sanders era, was the first impression Coleman left on the state of Colorado before the Broncos landed on him two years later.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
That would be a career-low over a full season, and yet Doval has remained a liability after making a less-than-stellar first impression last season.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Earlier this month, the Kremlin announced that this year’s Victory Day parade, held every May 9th in Red Square to commemorate the Soviet victory in the Second World War, which is typically a show of Russian might, would be a modest, small-scale affair.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Related Stories Original stars of the show were in short supply, with several key cast members having passed on — including Paul Reubens, who died three years ago, and Phil Hartman and Lynne Marie Stewart, who died in 1998 and 2025, respectively.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
No immediate impact likely for world oil markets The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC won’t necessarily have any immediate effects in markets.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Yet another secondary effect of the Iran war is the expansion of modern drone warfare to the Persian Gulf region.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Semblance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/semblance. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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