What term describes words that depend on spelling rather than sound, appearing to rhyme but not actually doing so?

The correct term for words that seem to rhyme based on their spelling but do not actually rhyme phonetically is "Eye Rhyme." This literary device occurs when two words look similar in terms of their endings, leading readers to assume they rhyme based solely on their written appearance. For example, "love" and "move" may appear to have a matching pattern, but they do not have a phonetic rhyme because the pronunciation differs.

Understanding this concept is crucial in literary analysis as it highlights the nuances of sound and sight in poetry and prose. Eye rhymes can create a unique texture in a poem, allowing for visual play that contrasts with auditory expectations. This contrasts with true rhymes, which sound alike when spoken, slant rhymes that have similar but not identical sounds, and assonance, which focuses on the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words rather than their endings.