1
as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
he allowed himself to dine at fine restaurants all over the world under the guise of research for his book on international cuisine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in costume
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation
she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in mask
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else
he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in appearance
outward and often deceptive indication
hazing rituals may have the guise of harmless fun, but often the reality is serious physical abuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of guise
The abuse included groping and fondling of the students’ genitals and other acts under the guise of a medical examination.
—
CNN Money, 4 June 2026
The abuse included groping and fondling of the students' genitals and other acts under the guise of a medical examination.
—Jasper Ward, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Boston, the lone plaintiff in the lawsuit, asserted that the measure violates the state and federal constitutions and targets Democratic strongholds under the guise of taking politics out of those elections.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Exteriority is brought to the fore, and Liden’s appearance—that quiet guise of androgynous anonymity—grants her a particular freedom of movement that extends to the beholder.
—Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for guise
CNN Money, 4 June 2026
The abuse included groping and fondling of the students' genitals and other acts under the guise of a medical examination.
—Jasper Ward, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Boston, the lone plaintiff in the lawsuit, asserted that the measure violates the state and federal constitutions and targets Democratic strongholds under the guise of taking politics out of those elections.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Exteriority is brought to the fore, and Liden’s appearance—that quiet guise of androgynous anonymity—grants her a particular freedom of movement that extends to the beholder.
—Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for guise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guise
Noun
-
Mayim Bialik made her Big Bang Theory debut on season 3 as Amy, a neurobiologist who joined the gang under the pretense of being a potential love match for Sheldon via an online dating site.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
-
This year, McVay avoided any pretense of suspense.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
In London, the show is led by Arti Shah, who is performing inside the bear costume and James Hameed, who provides the bear’s voice and controls its facial expressions.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
-
The costumes are more fantastical than grittily realistic as well, with a hip Steampunk vibe that’s more fashionable than purely Victorian.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The event pays tribute to Baltimore's African American heritage through live music, cultural entertainers, children's activities, African drumming, carnival mask-making, art showcases, and local vendors.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Use it as a body mask in the shower and step out with super-smooth skin.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Anytime a politician is commanding money, regardless of the purpose, there is at least the appearance that the giver — Meta, Google, Blue Shield for example — may expect something in return.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Uruguay, a traditional South American competitor that entered the World Cup ranked in the international top 20, would be the heavy favorite over Cape Verde, an African island nation with fewer than half a million citizens that was also making its first-ever appearance in the World Cup.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Tarps continue to cover portions of the facade where the name had been displayed.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2026
-
Sign on facade at shoe company Allbirds, Walnut Creek, California, August 25, 2025.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
In the video, posted on June 16, the pair both don medieval garb, lip-syncing the lyrics to the unreleased track.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
-
The late, great Giorgio Armani was rightly celebrated for his generation-defining tailoring—but his off-the-clock garb is no less worthy of acclaim.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Dressed in military-style camouflage, the members of the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army placed their weapons on a table during a formal ceremony in the department of Putumayo, which borders Ecuador.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
The close-to-the-crown plaits create a sleek, polished finish while helping camouflage sparse areas by minimizing visible spacing between each braid.—
Omenaa Boakye,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Still, as the face of Manchester’s rejuvenation, Burnham assumed a US governor-style regional leader profile.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
The exchange came about a minute after Clark drilled a 3-pointer in Reese's face.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guise. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
