There is not even a semblance of proof.
Source: tatoeba (268227)
Semblance
/ˈsɛmblən(t)s/
Synonyms for "semblance" (235 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (47)
Strong matches (71)
counterfeitcovercover storycover upcover-updead ringerdeceptiondelusiondelusivenessdevicedisguisedissemblancedissemblingdissimulationdoubleduplicateectypeeffecteffigyeidolon
Show 46 more words
exact likenessexcusefacadefacefacetfair copyfaithful copyfakefakeryfakingfallaciousnessfalse airfalse appearancefalse frontfalse lightfalse showfalsenessfalsityfashionfeaturefeelfeelingfeigningfeintfellowfigureforgeryformfour-flushingfraudfrontgestaltgiltglossguisehandlehumbughumbuggeryiconidealizationidentityidolillusionismillusionistillusivenessimage
Related words (117)
imagoimitationimmaterialityimpostureimpressionlame excuselightlikenesslikeninglineamentsliving imageliving picturelocus standilookmagicmagic actmagic showmagicianmannermask
Show 93 more words
masqueradematchmatemeretriciousnessmetaphormimickingminiaturemirroringmockerymodelmoodnearnessostensible motiveostentationoutward showparallelismparitypasticciopastichephasephasisphonyphotographpictureplayactingpoor excuseportraitposeposingpostureprestidigitationpretensepretensionpretextprosperoprotestationpublic motiveput offput-offreferencereflectionrefugeregardrepresentationresemblancerespectrubbingsamenessscreenseemingshadowshamshapeshowshowingsidesimilaritysimilesimilitudesimulacrumsimulationslantsleight of handsmoke screensorcerersorceryspecious appearancespeciousnessspit and imagespitting imagestalking horsestalking-horsestratagemstylesubterfugetotal effecttracetracingtricktwintwistunactualityunrealityunsubstantialityvarnishveilveneervery imagevery pictureviewviewpointwindow dressingwise
Noun(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: likeness, accordance, acting, affectation, affinity.
- Sentence evidence is available for semblance, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "semblance".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "semblance"
Keep "semblance" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "semblance" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "semblance", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "semblance" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriesfalse semblancemere semblanceoutward semblancesemblance of ordersemblance of realitytrue semblance
Inflections
1 entriesTranslations
1 translations across 1 languages.
Finnish
1 entries- ulkonäkö noun (outward appearance or form of a person or thing)
Sample sentences
42 total sentences available.
You see, Tom, your articles are like those drawings made by young children: not those bright, colourful works with some semblance of imagination - perhaps with lackluster execution - but rather, the drawings of a simple, everyday schoolchild.
Source: tatoeba (7899803)
The figures at Madame Tussauds are very lifelike, and appear to have no semblance of waxiness to them.
Source: tatoeba (8930966)
While life has regained some semblance of normalcy, many local residents say the withdrawal is nothing more than a public relations ploy aimed at countering international criticism of the reoccupation of land.
Source: tatoeba (12052479)
Showing 4 of 42 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "semblance"?
Closest matches include likeness, accordance, acting, affectation, affinity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "semblance"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.