Potemkin village

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 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 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 The resort reproduces an ancient Apulian town and farmhouse in a project that some locals have likened to a Mediterranean Potemkin village. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 11 June 2024 The fake blood, the cars on rails, the Potemkin villages, not to mention the computer graphics, the herds and armies and tempests that exist only in code. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Potemkin village
Noun
  • Critics have long contended that the position amounted to little more than a fig leaf, albeit one that still managed to occupy a few seats at the national policy-making table.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 May 2025
  • Trump’s cryptocurrency ventures are nothing more than a fig leaf for pay offs from foreign nationals.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The screen sports a 120Hz refresh rate with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and a 2200x2480-pixel resolution.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Among Renner’s upcoming screen projects is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • It’s got a roller-style mop that stays in place during cleaning, and features a retractable shield that automatically deploys to prevent dragging moisture over rugs.
    Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
  • The mission stays the same: to be a shield, not a sword.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
Noun
  • Residents can sign a pledge to participate in the Lights Out Louisville program, which calls for business and homeowners to cut down on artificial light usage at night, while also drawing shades, curtains and blinds after dark to help prevent bird strikes.
    Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 24 July 2025
  • Close blinds or curtains during the day to block heat buildup Layer up in sleepwear—wear socks, long sleeves, or silk pajamas that adapt to your body temperature.
    Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Potemkin village.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Potemkin%20village. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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