SEEMING Synonyms: 127 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'seeming' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of seeming are apparent , illusory , and ostensible . While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else. // the seeming simplicity of the story

Q: In what contexts can 'apparent' take the place of 'seeming'?

The synonyms apparent and seeming are sometimes interchangeable, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge. // the apparent cause of the accident

Q: When is it sensible to use 'illusory' instead of 'seeming'?

The words illusory and seeming can be used in similar contexts, but illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view. // an illusory sense of security

Q: When could 'ostensible' be used to replace 'seeming'?

The words ostensible and seeming are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one. // the ostensible reason for their visit

seeming 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of seeming

as in apparent

appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed a seeming contradiction that disappeared upon closer analysis of the text

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seeming

2 of 3

noun

ˈsē-miŋ

as in appearance

outward and often deceptive indication her altruism is all seeming—she cares only about herself

Synonyms & Similar Words

seeming

3 of 3

verb

present participle of seem

as in looking

to give the impression of being I tried to cheer them up because they seemed depressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective seeming contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of seeming are apparent, illusory, and ostensible. While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

In what contexts can apparent take the place of seeming?

The synonyms apparent and seeming are sometimes interchangeable, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

When is it sensible to use illusory instead of seeming?

The words illusory and seeming can be used in similar contexts, but illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

When could ostensible be used to replace seeming?

The words ostensible and seeming are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of seeming

Adjective

But Chee’s first-person, present-tense narration differs from most in being, in a seeming paradox, retrospective. — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026 His seeming lack of curiosity about what happened to Lee in San Francisco felt to me like the product of mid-century white America. — Max Gao, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Noun

Nvidia did not immediately respond to Ars’ request to comment on this seeming tension. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026 The current Police Chief has resisted numerous requests for more robust public reporting of the racial demographics and seeming disproportionalities of HCPD’s traffic stops, arrests and use of force. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026

Verb

The structure of World War Z lends the material a dreadful credibility, with the prospect of a zombie apocalypse never seeming more plausible. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026 That this attack was pulled off with seeming ease and the destruction was horrifying and devastating. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seeming

Recent Examples of Synonyms for seeming

Adjective

Instead, the conjecture addresses a specific class of quantum computations and the conditions under which their apparent advantage can be reproduced classically.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Cavaliers freshman quarterback Hassir Houston had to be carried off the field with an apparent leg injury late in the first half but returned in the fourth quarter.

— Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of apparent

Noun

Fittingly, the rapper brings out his best fighters for the record, which features appearances from Drake, Travis Scott, and Loe Shimmy.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Designed to help smooth the appearance of wrinkles while supporting visibly firmer, more resilient skin over time, each mask is infused with approximately one-third of a jar the cream.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of appearance

Verb

At a Thursday post-election conference organized by the Center for American Progress, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that the people who’d beaten invincible-looking Republicans needed space to vote and govern their way.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Rival studios are looking closely at whether audiences still see Depp as a big screen draw.

— J. Kim Murphy, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of looking

Noun

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man accused of striking a 60-year-old woman in the face while riding a bicycle in Philadelphia.

— Eva Andersen, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
There’s the tight-skin feeling that sent them looking for a moisturizer, and there’s the prospect of wearing a cream on a day when their face already feels sticky outdoors.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of face

Verb

But Fox News also is likely feeling the impact of the dwindling number of homes with subscriptions to pay TV, as consumers continue to abandon cable and satellite services for streaming, although CNN and MS NOW gained viewers despite the same trend.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
As housing prices have skyrocketed, so too have property tax bills, despite homeowners feeling no richer.

— M. Nolan Gray, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of feeling

Adjective

Digital twin technology makes this possible by creating virtual representations of real-world objects, systems, and processes that can be updated with operational data.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
The meteorological agency warned people to brace for possible strong quakes in the coming week, especially the next two to three days.

— Yuri Kageyama, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of possible

Browse Nearby Words

seemed

seeming

seemingly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Seeming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seeming. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of seeming

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

valorous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes