seeming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "seeming" is a perfectly acceptable word in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that appears to be true or real, but may not actually be the case. It is often used to express the idea of appearances being deceiving. For example, "On the surface, the politician seemed honest, but his seeming good nature was just a facade to win votes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Conte's rotation policy has come under scrutiny, with Andrea Pirlo substituted twice already this season and seeming to react badly to it – heading straight down the tunnel after being withdrawn against Verona.

The Guardian - Sport

Acting with seeming impunity and military precision, the extremists oversaw an organised campaign that targeted dark-skinned immigrants, leftist opponents and gay people, according to state prosecutors, who spent 15 months investigating the openly xenophobic, antisemitic and homophobic group.

The Guardian

Sinn Féin has taken considerable political flak in the Irish Republic for seeming to back welfare reforms including cuts to the civil service and public sector in Northern Ireland.

The Guardian

The highlight: There's something infinitely appealing about Parker's music, which manages the trick of transplanting the spirit of 69 to 2015 without seeming simply retro.

The Guardian - Music

So could he be the person to shatter a stale consensus that endures from fear of seeming soft?

The Guardian - Opinion

The education secretary of the day, Estelle Morris and her, rather brighter, minister, David Miliband, were terrified of seeming to dumb-down the new AS/A-level system.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

I don't like it, but strict, illiberal-seeming limitations and tough-minded enforcement seems to be a necessary element of successful liberalising immigration reform.

The Economist

As a cheerleader with beauty pageant ambitions, Thomas was embarrassed by this kooky-seeming activism – until she was stricken with polymyositis, a debilitating loss of muscle mass.

The Guardian - Film

"[The unrest] is professional, it's co-ordinated, there is nothing grassroots-seeming about it.

The Guardian

AI uses a lot of brute force to get intelligent-seeming responses from systems that, though bigger and more powerful now than before, are no more like minds than they ever were.

The Economist

Shellshock tugged at a 22-year-old thread in a piece of software called "bash," which permits administrators unfettered access to tell a system what to do; the exploit made benign-seeming server requests into a full command-and-control situations.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seeming" to introduce an element of doubt or uncertainty about an appearance or impression. It suggests that what is perceived might not be the complete or accurate truth.

Common error

Avoid using "seeming" when you intend to convey something is definitively true. "Seeming" implies a potential discrepancy between appearance and reality. Use a more direct adjective if there is no uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "seeming" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe appearances or impressions that may or may not be entirely accurate. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "seeming" functions as an adjective used to qualify impressions or appearances with an implication of uncertainty or potential misdirection. Ludwig AI confirms that "seeming" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term in written English. It's commonly found in news and media, formal business contexts, and science, signaling its versatility across different registers. When using "seeming", remember that it suggests what is perceived might not reflect the whole truth, distinguishing it from more definitive descriptors. Alternatives like "apparent", "ostensible", and "superficial" can be used to fine-tune the specific shade of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparent

Expresses something that appears to be true based on initial observation, similar to "seeming".

ostensible

Indicates a stated or apparent purpose or reason, which might not be the actual one, like "seeming".

outward

Refers to what is visible or apparent on the surface, closely related to the idea of "seeming".

superficial

Describes something that is on the surface and not thorough, conveying a similar sense of appearance as "seeming".

illusory

Implies a misleading or deceptive appearance, akin to something that is "seeming" but not real.

professed

Indicates something claimed openly but not necessarily believed or genuine, similar to "seeming".

alleged

Describes something declared but not yet proven, sharing the uncertain quality of "seeming".

supposed

Suggests a belief or assumption that may or may not be true, like something that is "seeming".

so-called

Used to express doubt about the accuracy or appropriateness of a name or description, related to "seeming".

purported

Indicates that something is claimed to be true, often without proof, similar to the tentative nature of "seeming".

FAQs

How do you use "seeming" in a sentence?

Use "seeming" to describe something that appears to be a certain way, but might not actually be. For example, "The task was simple, but its "seeming simplicity" hid many challenges."

What's the difference between "seeming" and "apparent"?

"Seeming" suggests a stronger degree of doubt or potential deception than "apparent". While both indicate something appears a certain way, "seeming" implies more strongly that the appearance may be misleading. "Apparent" is closer to "clearly visible", while "seeming" is closer to "possibly misleading".

Which is correct, "seeming indifference" or "seemed indifference"?

"Seeming indifference" is correct. "Seeming" functions as an adjective modifying the noun "indifference". "Seemed" is the past tense of the verb "seem" and would be used differently, such as in the sentence "He seemed indifferent."

What can I say instead of "seeming"?

You can use alternatives like "apparent", "ostensible", or "superficial", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.