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
  • The logo of Bitget is displayed on a smartphone screen with a stock market chart in the background, in Créteil, France, on June 30, 2026.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • With Game Picture Mode enabled, every pixel on the screen goes towards keeping you immersed in your games by ensuring that the entire display is used.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of screen
Noun
  • Therapists begin facials with face-scanning wands and other probes, to measure your lipid shield, pigmentation, hydration and elasticity, and then cater their approach to the precise needs of your skin in that moment.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In Paris, tear gas filled the air, and trash cans, school desks and chairs were set alight as riot police with shields and batons clashed with some demonstrators.
    — Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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