Meaning & use
veneer
Last updated
A thin decorative layer of fine material covering a surface, or a superficial appearance that hides the true nature of something.
See it in a sentence
The table was made of plywood covered with an oak veneer.
Beneath his veneer of confidence, he was terrified of failing.
A note on using this word
The figurative sense, meaning a false or superficial outward appearance, is extremely common in writing about character and social behavior.
Words with a similar meaning
layerfacade
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A superficial or deceptive outward appearance that conceals someone's or something's true nature.
Her polite veneer cracked the moment she was criticized.
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