window dressing

noun

Definition of window dressingnext
as in facade
a deceptively attractive external appearance the crime-does-not-pay moralizing is just window dressing for nasty hard-boiled stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 window dressing Those side-story quests are always guaranteed to be different narrative window dressings on time trials. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 May 2026 For years, the large-scale cannabis industry has treated aroma like window dressing — something nice to have, but not exactly essential. — Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 25 Feb. 2026 Unless the answer is yes, your AI tools may just be window dressing. — Vidya Plainfield, Forbes.com, 3 Feb. 2026 Skeptics may claim this as window dressing for strategic global ambitions. — Kerry E. Ratigan, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for window dressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for window dressing
facade
Noun
  • Europe has long resisted air conditioning as noisy, an eyesore on architectural facades and unnecessary, as brutal summer heat has been relatively short-lived.
    — Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Original Tuscan columns on the facade were preserved, while interior crown moldings were restored and paired with bleached hardwood chevron floors, new chandeliers, and mantlepieces.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 2 July 2026
Definition of facade

Browse Nearby Words

window
window dressing
window dressings
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Cite this Entry

“Window dressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/window%20dressing. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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