veneer

Smyth’s position within the church gave him a veneer of trustworthiness that opened doors for him to abuse.

By the end of the inning, they had scored five runs to tie the game and puncture Cole’s veneer of invulnerability.

Fox News was quick to slap a veneer of normality on Trump’s aspirations of erecting a Nazi-like regime in his image.

Her performance was a delight, with a veneer of snobbery from which would emerge the masterly put down, particularly in the case of Mr Novello's failed movie.

"Roseanne" peeled back the veneer around the grunt work of parenting and allowed ongoing problems in the family to stay messy and unresolved.