in name only
On paper alone
Something that exists in name only has the title, label, or designation but lacks the substance or reality it implies.
A president in name only holds the office but wields no actual power.
A marriage in name only exists legally but involves no real partnership or intimacy.
The phrase emphasizes the gap between what something is called and what it truly is.
- honoraryGiven as distinction
- figureheadNominal leader, no authority
- puppetControlled performing figure
- titularIn title only
- rubber stampAutomatic approval device
empty title · paper tiger · ceremonial · for show · illusory · window-dressing · de jure · hollow · ostensible · veneer · pretense · facade · pro forma · going through the motions · shell · superficial · fictitious · formalistic
- nominaltitular, figurehead, token, honorary, symbolic
in name onlyin truth
In accordance with facts
in reality · genuinely · truly · in fact · actually
in name onlywholeheartedly
With total commitment
completely · fully · totally · entirely · to the letter
name, only, nominee, nominal, nominally, nominalism, nominative, nominalist