unmask

verb

un·​mask ˌən-ˈmask How to pronounce unmask (audio)
unmasked; unmasking; unmasks

transitive verb

1
: to reveal the true nature of : expose
2
: to remove a mask from

intransitive verb

: to remove one's mask

Examples of unmask in a Sentence

He was unmasked as a spy. the killer's identity won't be unmasked until the season's final episode
Recent Examples on the Web In an effort to prove her case, Chen subpoenaed Herridge and Fox News, with the hope of unmasking the reporting’s sources. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Meta claimed that the personas were carrying out social engineering attacks on targets, attempting to get the victims to click on links that would unmask their IP address. Forbes Daily, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 The scientist has sued the FBI for leaking her name and subpoenaed Herridge and Fox News in an effort to unmask her sources. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Feb. 2024 In 2023, film companies lost two attempts to have Reddit unmask its users. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2024 Nick, 43, revealed that Husky would be the first competitor eliminated on Wednesday and had to unmask. Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 7 Dec. 2023 Godzilla is thus an apocalyptic figure, in the strictest sense of the word: a thing of unmasking, of revelation. Asher Elbein, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2023 Before Cow could unmask, though, runner-up Donut needed to expose his identity. Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2023 Recommended Respect With Appalachian noir, David Joy unmasks race and history in the South Even more telling, hundreds of other pilots then signed a counterpetition denouncing those who had refused to serve – causing a few of the original group to backtrack. Danna Harman, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unmask.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of unmask was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near unmask

Cite this Entry

“Unmask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unmask. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unmask

verb
un·​mask ˌən-ˈmask How to pronounce unmask (audio)
ˈən-
: to strip of a mask or a disguise : expose
unmask a traitor

More from Merriam-Webster on unmask

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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