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
Relevance
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
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
Some semblance of time does exist on Sommarøy.
—
Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
Sigourney Weaver may have built her career as Alien’s Ripley, one of the great heroines of American blockbusters, but the three-time Oscar nominee has spent decades avoiding any semblance of typecasting.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 20 Dec. 2025
Any semblance of a functioning individual health insurance market has been eliminated, as government health insurance or employers are the only real source of coverage for nearly all Americans.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Anything to spark a team devoid of any semblance of a winning identity.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for semblance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for semblance
Noun
-
This week’s truncating of the schedule removed whatever pretense remained that Kennedy’s HHS would respect the scientific process for making decisions about vaccines even when that process was dominated by allies who had already taken action to roll back recommendations.—
-
But gone are the days when those books were displayed to show off the intellect and interests of their owners — and with it, the pretense, at least, that their owners had read them.—
Noun
-
Carter continued to act into the early 2020s with appearances in Stumptown, Fake Friends and the TV series Dave.—
-
In fact, his seven playoff victories are the most ever for a QB without even a Super Bowl appearance.—
Noun
-
So, try the spread at Trinquet, a cozy restaurant in the Old Town, the historic center where some facades date back to the medieval period.—
-
City staff is recommending that signage should be limited to one per façade for a total of four wall signs, city officials wrote in a planning report.—
Noun
-
Smith’s face, with the smoke-black eyes and hair of his Cherokee mother, seemed to beg for sympathy.—
-
This soft, face-framing texture is key to the in-between cut's appeal.—
Noun
-
The Skechers shoes boast a low-profile silhouette, plus a slip-on design despite their lace-up guise.—
-
Approved by The Boss himself, the live-music and storytelling show finds Azaria slipping into his best Springsteen guise for a night of gruff tales and greatest hits.—
Noun
-
Montha connected on a trio of shots from behind the arc in the second quarter, as the junior point guard did his best Steph Curry impression to help the Tillers to a 33-26 halftime advantage over the Eagles (12-7, 1-1).—
-
There’s also the fact that the impression fans or analysts form about a team is often weighted toward the offensive end of the football, and Denver’s sporadic nature on that side of the ball this season has contributed to the lukewarm view some have of the team.—
Noun
-
Earlier in the night, host Nikki Glaser cracked a joke about the show's hype.—
-
As part of the unique treatment — Challis Davy always likes to throw in surprises — some of the artists will be portrayed by actors who will appear throughout the Irvine Bowl outdoor amphitheatre during the shows.—
Noun
-
The existing program was implemented in 2024 and is in effect for two years.—
-
As well as testing the various systems on board, the crew will be test subjects themselves, helping Nasa understand the effects that space travel has on their cognition, sleep, stress, immune responses and cardiovascular health.—
Cite this Entry
“Semblance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/semblance. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share