cover-up
noun
cov·er-up
ˈkə-vər-ˌəp 
1
a
: a device or stratagem for masking or concealing
his garrulousness is a cover-up for insecurity
b
: a usually concerted effort to keep an illegal or unethical act or situation from being made public
2
: a loose outer garment
Examples of cover-up in a Sentence
that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder
Recent Examples on the Web
That requirement stemmed from Nixon's attempt to destroy the White House tapes that incriminated him in the cover-up of the Watergate burglary.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Human rights advocates condemned the report as a cover-up.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
There is also a Goop store for any failure to pack enough beach cover-ups.
—Emily Adler, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
From linen-blend classics to crochet cover-ups, these Amazon finds are made for warm-weather escapes.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cover-up
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Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Human rights advocates condemned the report as a cover-up.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
There is also a Goop store for any failure to pack enough beach cover-ups.
—Emily Adler, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
From linen-blend classics to crochet cover-ups, these Amazon finds are made for warm-weather escapes.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cover-up
Cite this Entry
“Cover-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover-up. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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