If you refer to the pleasant way that someone or something appears as a veneer, you are critical of them because you believe that their true, hidden nature is not good.
[disapproval]
He was able to fool the world with his veneer of education.
His super-clean image gave a veneer of respectability to the new professional set-up. [+ of]
Synonyms: mask, show, façade, front [informal] More Synonyms of veneer
2. variable noun
Veneer is a thin layer of wood or plastic which is used to improve the appearance of something.
The wood was cut into large sheets of veneer.
Only the finest timbers and veneers are used.
More Synonyms of veneer
veneer in British English
(vɪˈnɪə)
noun
1.
a thin layer of wood, plastic, etc, with a decorative or fine finish that is bonded to the surface of a less expensive material, usually wood
2.
a superficial appearance, esp one that is pleasing
a veneer of gentility
3.
any facing material that is applied to a different backing material
4.
any one of the layers of wood that is used to form plywood
verb(transitive)
5.
to cover (a surface) with a veneer
6.
to bond together (thin layers of wood) to make plywood
7.
to conceal (something) under a superficially pleasant surface
Derived forms
veneerer (veˈneerer)
noun
Word origin
C17: from German furnieren to veneer, from Old French fournir to furnish
veneer in American English
(vəˈnɪr)
verb transitive
1.
to cover with a thin layer of more costly material; esp., to cover (wood) with wood of finer quality
2.
to give a superficially attractive appearance to
3.
to glue together (thin layers of wood) to form plywood
noun
4.
a thin surface layer of fine wood or costly material laid over a base of common material
5.
any of the thin layers glued together in plywood
6.
any attractive but superficial appearance or display
a veneer of culture
Word origin
Ger furnieren, to veneer < Fr fournir, to furnish
Examples of 'veneer' in a sentence
veneer
It took an own goal and a penalty to give a flattering veneer to the scoreline.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Ghosts deals with the moral rot concealed behind a veneer of decorum.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For a few days it seemed as if the veneer of our civilisation was thin.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Under this thin veneer of modesty lies a monster of greed.
Christianity Today (2000)
But proof of his twisted extremism hits hopes of building a veneer of respectability.
The Sun (2011)
His respectable veneer gives space for a tiny minority to pretend that their extremist views are mainstream.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She was playing the tough businesswoman but it was a thin veneer.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are certain areas where all men lose their veneer of civilisation and give vent to the beast within.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In the sitting room, the end wall is also covered with teak veneer.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There are new bespoke possibilities involving the hi-fi and the wood veneers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It does classic and modern designs in man-made and natural wood veneers.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It's a boardroom done up with wood veneer and we have tea and biscuits.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
For their generation, such tolerance was commonplace in maintaining the veneer of marital respectability.
The Sun (2012)
The chaos only lasted three days, but it made me aware that the veneer of civilisation is very thin.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But they produce fine veneer.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Soft leather and fine wood veneers abound and the centrally mounted clock is more reminiscent of a luxury gentleman's watch than a mere timepiece.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
veneer
British English: veneer NOUN
If you refer to the pleasant way that someone or something appears as a veneer, you are critical of them because you believe that their true, hidden nature is not good.
He was able to fool the world with his veneer of education.
American English: veneer
Brazilian Portuguese: aparência
Chinese: 虚饰
European Spanish: barniz
French: vernis
German: Anstrich
Italian: facciata
Japanese: うわべ
Korean: 겉치장
European Portuguese: aparência
Latin American Spanish: barniz
1 (noun)
Definition
a deceptive but convincing appearance
He was able to fool people with his veneer of intellectuality.
Synonyms
mask
His mask cracked, and she saw an angry and violent man.
show
We need to make a show of acknowledging their expertise.
façade
At work they hid their dislike of each other behind a façade of cheerfulness.
front (informal)
a front for crime syndicates
appearance
They gave the appearance of being on both sides.
guise
The workers are being dismissed under the guise of a reorganization.
pretence
He claimed the police beat him up under the pretence that he was resisting arrest.
semblance
They had nursed Peter back to some semblance of health.
false front
2 (noun)
Definition
a thin layer of wood or plastic used to cover the surface of something made of cheaper material
bath panels fitted with a mahogany veneer
Synonyms
layer
A fresh layer of snow covered the street.
covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
finish
The finish of the woodwork was excellent.
facing
film
The sea is coated with a film of sewage.
gloss
The rain produced a black gloss on the asphalt.
patina
laminate
cladding
lamination
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appearance
They gave the appearance of being on both sides.
Synonyms
impression,
air,
front,
image,
illusion,
guise,
façade,
pretence,
veneer,
semblance,
outward show
in the sense of covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
Synonyms
cover,
protection,
coating,
overlay,
housing,
casing,
top,
clothing,
wrapping,
wrap,
shelter,
layer,
blanket,
wrapper
in the sense of facing
Definition
an outer layer of material applied to the surface of a wall
Synonyms
overlay,
front,
surface,
coating,
trimming,
plaster,
reinforcement,
façade,
veneer,
stucco,
cladding,
false front,
revetment
Nearby words of
veneer
venal
vendetta
vendor
veneer
venerable
venerate
veneration
Synonyms of 'veneer'
veneer
Explore 'veneer' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of façade
At work they hid their dislike of each other behind a façade of cheerfulness.
Synonyms
show,
front,
appearance,
mask,
exterior,
guise,
pretence,
veneer,
semblance
in the sense of film
Definition
a thin coating, covering, or layer
The sea is coated with a film of sewage.
Synonyms
layer,
covering,
cover,
skin,
coating,
coat,
dusting,
tissue,
membrane,
scum,
gauze,
integument,
pellicle
in the sense of finish
Definition
the surface texture of wood, cloth, or metal
The finish of the woodwork was excellent.
Synonyms
surface,
appearance,
polish,
shine,
grain,
texture,
glaze,
veneer,
lacquer,
lustre,
smoothness,
patina
in the sense of front
Definition
a business or other activity serving as a respectable cover for another, usually criminal, organization
a front for crime syndicates
Synonyms
disguise,
cover,
screen,
blind,
mask,
cover-up,
cloak,
façade,
pretext
in the sense of gloss
Definition
a bright shine on a surface
The rain produced a black gloss on the asphalt.
Synonyms
shine,
gleam,
sheen,
polish,
brilliance,
varnish,
brightness,
veneer,
lustre,
burnish,
patina
in the sense of guise
Definition
a false appearance
The workers are being dismissed under the guise of a reorganization.
Synonyms
pretence,
show,
mask,
disguise,
face,
front (informal),
aspect,
façade,
semblance
in the sense of pretence
Definition
a pretext
He claimed the police beat him up under the pretence that he was resisting arrest.
Synonyms
pretext,
claim,
excuse,
show,
cover,
mask,
veil,
cloak,
guise,
façade,
masquerade,
semblance,
ruse,
garb,
wile
in the sense of semblance
Definition
outward or superficial appearance
They had nursed Peter back to some semblance of health.
Synonyms
appearance,
show,
form,
air,
figure,
front,
image,
bearing,
aspect,
mask,
similarity,
resemblance,
guise,
façade,
pretence,
veneer,
likeness,
mien (literary)
in the sense of show
Definition
something done to create an impression
We need to make a show of acknowledging their expertise.