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Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing

Cosmetic

adjective / koz-MET-ik / Easy
Meaning

Affecting only outward appearance, not substance; superficial rather than genuine

Origin / Etymology

Greek kosmetikos, skilled in adornment, from kosmos (order, adornment)

Synonyms
Superficial Surface Token Nominal
Antonyms
Substantive Fundamental Genuine Structural
Example Sentence
"Without an official taxonomy, the door stays open to cosmetic environmental claims that crowd out genuinely green projects, a practice known as greenwashing."
🎯 UPSC Usage

Sharp for GS2 and GS3 critiques. Use to argue that a reform or claim is cosmetic, that is, it changes appearance without addressing the underlying problem, for example, cosmetic compliance, cosmetic reform, or cosmetic environmental claims (greenwashing).

Relevant Subjects
Economy Environment
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