veneer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The terrific Mr. Baker portrays Leigh with antsy anxiousness thinly masked by a veneer of professional camaraderie—he knows that Jay’s participation is crucial to the success, or maybe existence, of the production.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

According to critics, this symbiosis creates a scientific veneer for state violence, allowing law enforcement to brand old tactics of containment and harassment as “precise” and “data-driven.”

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

Beneath the pretty veneer of Knysna - which is also retirement haven for more affluent South Africans - its water system is on the brink of collapse.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

They come with this veneer of society’s expectations and all of these things.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

I had the sense that I should have been able to unpack them, that there was only a thin veneer separating me from their meaning, and yet the veneer was impenetrable.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez