SEMBLANCE Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

semblance

noun

ˈsem-blən(t)s

Definition of semblance

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in appearance

outward and often deceptive indication a used-car dealer with only a semblance of honesty

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 semblance While under fire and in a foxhole listening to his tiny radio for some semblance of normalcy. — Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 Led by Alexei Nechayev, the head of a cosmetics firm, the party was widely seen as a product of the Kremlin, intended to cater to the liberal audience and to present a semblance of political competition. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 Despite growing up in the limelight, Steve and Hannah Fanning managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy for their two kids. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026 Many of those closest to any semblance of comprehension may quit to go live in underground bunkers. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for semblance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for semblance

Noun

The application moves away from last-minute stress, unwanted items, and polite pretense, establishing a modern channel for intentional giving.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
And the idea that yakuza were on the side of the common man was rarely anything more than a pretense.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretense

Noun

Maintenance may fix a loose step, or normal foot traffic can change the appearance of an outdoor area.

— Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Michael Forest, the strapping actor who starred in Beast From Haunted Cave and other B-pictures for Roger Corman and made memorable guest-star appearances on classic episodes of The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Star Trek, has died.

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of appearance

Noun

The story centers on a transfer student’s enigmatic bond with a teacher, as a string of unexplained, supernatural incidents cracks the school’s polished facade.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
As Ray goes down the rabbit hole, the shiny facade of Metropia and Megamax (which is, notably and obviously evil from the start) begin to crumble.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of facade

Noun

This one was carved from a block of limestone and features a slender face with a long nose and a tiny, smiling mouth.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
As always, Howerton is the cast MVP, with his elastic, expressive face selling all of probable-serial killer Dennis’s most hyperbolic reactions.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of face

Noun

In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
But unlike Backrooms, SCP Foundation has always been more centralized to this one website, and every subsequent SCP Foundation work has always fallen under the guise of the Creative Commons license, something the Backrooms creepypasta never did.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of guise

Noun

More than half of people using AI at work worried that using it on important tasks would create exactly that impression.

— Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Then again, the album’s 15-minute runtime presupposes a complete lasting impression isn’t the point.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of impression

Noun

At the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, curator John Fields has built a renowned space for visual art, attracting a kaleidoscope of artists and shows over the course of his 12-year tenure.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Social media and the rise of influencers transformed the streets outside the shows into a stage of their own.

— Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of show

Noun

Forecasters say this year's could be among the strongest on record, and its effects are already being felt across South America and far beyond.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
In one example, the institution’s claim that California’s minimum wage law for fast-food workers had devastated the job market for those workers was tripped up by its failure to recognize the effect of seasonal adjustments in employment statistics.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of effect

Browse Nearby Words

semaphores

semblance

semblances

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“Semblance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/semblance. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of semblance

noun

Example Sentences

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