SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
veneer
noun
A thin outer layer; figuratively, a superficial appearance concealing what lies beneath.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Thin outer layer
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA veneer is a thin facing over a base. Finish concerns a surface treatment, and cladding can be thicker or structurally different.
Superficial appearance
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA figurative veneer covers an underlying reality without necessarily changing it. Pretense more directly suggests a false claim or display.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See veneer in use
The polished presentation supplied a veneer of certainty to a weak proposal.
The ostensible purpose of a networking event was to introduce local designers to one another. Its glossy invitation created a veneer of exclusivity, although the organizers had rented an ordinary meeting room.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license