Synonyms of seeming

seeming 1 of 3

adjective

as in apparent

appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed

a seeming contradiction that disappeared upon closer analysis of the text

Synonyms & Similar Words

• apparent
• presumed
• possible
• obvious
• probable
• supposed
• evident
• ostensible
• assumed
• putative
• reputed
• alleged
• prima facie
• plausible
• likely
• ostensive
• superficial
• visible
• distinct
• outward
• demonstrable
• external
• conceivable
• manifest
• supposable
• illusory
• imaginary
• misleading
• deceptive
• purported
• delusive
• illusive
• specious
• clear
• feigned
• claimed
• plain
• professed
• delusory
• pseudo
• phony
• fake
• pretended
• faked
• put-on
• so-called

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hidden
• impossible
• unlikely
• improbable
• inconceivable
• real
• actual
• implausible
• inapparent
• sure
• genuine
• valid
• confirmed
• established
• validated
• substantiated
• corroborated
• verified
• authenticated

seeming

2 of 3

noun

ˈsē-miŋ 

as in appearance

outward and often deceptive indication

her altruism is all seeming—she cares only about herself

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appearance
• face
• impression
• effect
• show
• semblance
• name
• outward
• guise
• first blush
• implication
• resemblance
• pretense
• suggestion
• air
• hint
• display
• likeness
• affectation
• pose
• representation
• demonstration
• imitation
• surface
• insinuation
• cloak
• image
• fiction
• mask
• simulation
• facade
• disguise
• front
• masquerade
• shape
• exterior
• veneer
• gloss
• shell
• imposture
• make-believe
• patina
• Potemkin village

seeming

3 of 3

verb

present participle of seem

as in looking

to give the impression of being

I tried to cheer them up because they seemed depressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• looking
• feeling
• sounding
• appearing
• acting
• making
• pretending
• resembling
• suggesting
• coming off (as)
• implying
• coming across (as)
• recalling
• dissembling
• hinting
• insinuating

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective seeming contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of seeming are apparent, illusory, and ostensible. While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

In what contexts can apparent take the place of seeming?

The synonyms apparent and seeming are sometimes interchangeable, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

When is it sensible to use illusory instead of seeming?

The words illusory and seeming can be used in similar contexts, but illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

When could ostensible be used to replace seeming?

The words ostensible and seeming are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of seeming

Adjective

But his seeming contradictions are getting harder to ignore as scrutiny of OpenAI intensifies amid growing government reliance on its models and lawsuits that label its tech as unsafe. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026

Hegseth came out of his own service, in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the seeming conviction that what had stood in the way of a fuller victory in those wars had been the restraints supposedly placed on how soldiers could kill. —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026

Noun

The tweet quickly ricocheted around CBS News, where staff noted Weiss’ seeming willingness to express her political point of view about the mayor. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026

Instead, with ample contracts to put in play and the seeming need for a shakeup amid a recent 7-9 run that has Erik Spoelstra’s team trending toward a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in round — silence. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026

Verb

Influencer culture has always been about commodifying intimacy—and, at a certain point, authenticity stopped seeming to really matter to people. —T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Each painting has a luminous quality to it, with figures and textiles seeming to glow from within. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026