Potemkin village

noun

Definition of Potemkin villagenext
as in fig leaf

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of Potemkin village The Swedish government has come up with some drastically different economic figures on Russia that make the Kremlin’s official data seem like a Potemkin village. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 24 May 2026 But when Microsoft built the Potemkin village that is Copilot and charged for it, well, no thank you. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026 Only Alain seems eager to ignore the disinformation and embrace this Potemkin village as the real deal (except when his eyes show a gathering concern). — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 But his proudest accomplishments amount to little more than a progressive Potemkin village. — Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder portray a married couple who build a Potemkin village of eco-friendly homes and pour-over coffee shops in a struggling New Mexico town. — Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 But behind the Potemkin village, the Khmer Rouge regime is declining and the war with Vietnam threatens to invade the country. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Potemkin village
  1. fig leaf
  2. screen
  3. shield
  4. blind
Noun
  • Under the Assad regime, the parliament functioned as a ceremonial fig leaf that served political elites and passed laws that stripped ordinary Syrians of their basic rights.
    — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Consider the crisp, Gimlet-like Mediterrânico, made with sea fennel and eucalyptus, or the Banana Bonanza, a riff on the Negroni with Madeira, banana, coconut butter, and fig leaf.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of fig leaf
Noun
  • Dust can also drift into the TV’s ports and connections over time, which can lead to performance complications like fuzzy screens and audio issues.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
  • While birding is joining a Gen Z analog hobby boom as more young people are trying to go offline after the screen exhaustion of the pandemic, technology has also played a role in making birding more accessible.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of screen
Noun
  • An adult purple gallinule has a bright purple and green body with a pale blue marking that resembles a shield above its red and yellow bill.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Protective, almost — which makes sense, as its stunning chandeliers are designed to look like the shields and spears of African Masai warriors.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shield
Noun
  • The second installation attempt for the large blind was successful.
    — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • If that metering proves accurate enough in real-world use, the C100 could be both a fun blind-shooting gadget and a handy companion for film photographers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of blind

Browse Nearby Words

potbelly
Potemkin village
Potemkin villages
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Cite this Entry

“Potemkin village.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Potemkin%20village. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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