What does semblance mean?

Definitions for semblance
ˈsɛm blənssem·blance

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word semblance.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. semblance, gloss, color, colournoun

    an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading

    "he hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity"; "he tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction"; "the situation soon took on a different color"

  2. illusion, semblancenoun

    an erroneous mental representation

  3. likeness, semblancenoun

    picture consisting of a graphic image of a person or thing

Wiktionary

  1. semblancenoun

    likeness, similarity; the quality of being similar.

  2. semblancenoun

    Seeming; appearance; show; figure; form.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Semblancenoun

    Etymology: semblance, Fr. from semblant.

    Solicit Henry with her wond’rous praise;
    Bethink thee on her virtues, that surmount
    Her natural graces, that extinguish art:
    Repeat their semblance often. William Shakespeare.

    She’s but the sign and semblance of her honour:
    Behold how like a maid she blushes here!
    O, what authority and shew of truth
    Can cunning sin cover itself withal! William Shakespeare.

    He with high words, that bore
    Semblance of worth, not substance, gently rais’d
    Their fainting courage, and dispell’d their fears. John Milton.

    This last effort brought forth the opinion, that these bodies are not what they seem to be; that they are no shells, but mere sportings of active nature, and only semblances or imitations of shells. John Woodward.

    It is not his meaning that we put on the outward face and semblance of virtue, only to conceal and disguise our vice. John Rogers.

    Be you the soldier; for you likest are,
    For manly semblance and for skill in war. Edmund Spenser.

    Their semblance kind, and mild their gestures were,
    Peace in their hands, and friendship in their face. Edward Fairfax.

    All that fair and good in thy divine
    Semblance, and in thy beauty’s heav’nly ray,
    United I beheld. John Milton, Par. Lost.

ChatGPT

  1. semblance

    Semblance is the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different. It's a likeness or similarity to something, sometimes deceptive or superficial in nature.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Semblanceadjective

    seeming; appearance; show; figure; form

  2. Semblanceadjective

    likeness; resemblance, actual or apparent; similitude; as, the semblance of worth; semblance of virtue

  3. Etymology: [F. See Semblable, a.]

Matched Categories

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of semblance in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of semblance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of semblance in a Sentence

  1. Greg Ellis:

    It is exceedingly rare for someone who is tagged as the respondent who has been put in the crosshairs with the false allegation of domestic violence — the silver bullet — to come out and get any kind of semblance of a victory, let alone have a voice, so, the fact that he was able to speak for the first time, and I think we saw from the trial as well, his humanity and the spirit and gentle nature of the man. He was consistent and only took responsibility for his faults and the mistakes that he made. He's never said he's perfect.

  2. Michelle Obamas:

    Because whenever we look to President Barack Obamas White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy, empathy : thats something Ive been thinking a lot about lately. The ability to walk in someone elses shoes ; the recognition that someone elses experience has value, too. Most of us practice this without a second thought. If we see someone suffering or struggling, we dont stand in judgment.

  3. Vanessa Kummer:

    It will take years to get back to any semblance of what we had over in China.

  4. Fairfax County for her murder:

    Today my heart is with the Adler family. This indictment will not bring her back. And while her parents are not here to experience this day, it is my hope that those who knew and loved her will have some semblance of closure.

  5. Carl Takei:

    While accountability for the officer might have led to some semblance of justice, real justice would have been Jacob Blake never being shot in the first place.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

semblance#10000#47547#100000

Translations for semblance

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"semblance." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Jul 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/semblance>.

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