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
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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
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Recent Examples of guise
Footballing success, in differing guises, came a long time ago.
—
Adam Leventhal,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Opponents of affirmative action, who suspect that the process is still continuing under other guises, could seek to replicate the winning strategy of the Harvard and UNC cases, if testing data show large, unexplainable gaps in academic preparation among different student groups.
—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Host Pink, arguably the biggest celebrity ever to host the Tonys, began the show in the guise of a flying but quickly grounded Peter Pan, setting up the overall theme of Pink as an insecure Broadway fan with imposter syndrome.
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for guise
Adam Leventhal,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Opponents of affirmative action, who suspect that the process is still continuing under other guises, could seek to replicate the winning strategy of the Harvard and UNC cases, if testing data show large, unexplainable gaps in academic preparation among different student groups.
—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Host Pink, arguably the biggest celebrity ever to host the Tonys, began the show in the guise of a flying but quickly grounded Peter Pan, setting up the overall theme of Pink as an insecure Broadway fan with imposter syndrome.
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for guise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guise
Noun
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Fernando Navarro, 53, of Minneapolis, is facing four counts of felony fraud for collecting nearly $70,000 in funds from Minnesota's medical assistance program under false pretenses.
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Parliament was self-destructively arrogant in declining the colonies any vote or even much pretense of a say.
Noun
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News how his costume took a toll on his body.
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In one photo, Affleck holds a young Seraphina in a baby carrier while holding hands with Violet, and in another, Affleck wears a Batman costume while holding son Samuel.
Noun
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The back room of Flod’s studio is like a butcher’s walk-in fridge, where dozens more masks hang from the ceiling, each more outlandish than the last.
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This now-$13 hair mask is one of the best on the market.
Noun
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Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
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Kane scored off a header in the 67th minute of the match in the Meadowlands, giving him 11 goals in 14 career World Cup appearances.
Noun
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Local Law 11 façade inspections will be required every six years, instead of five, and buildings that are in good shape can perform them with drones and cameras instead of workers dangling from the roof.
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With facades facing Seventh Avenue, 498 and 500 Seventh Avenue promised a future for America’s fashion capitol and over time, helped chart the success of Norman Norell, Bill Blass, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren, among others.
Noun
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Many fans were seen wearing Viking helmets and garb as the large groups made their way into the stadium and inside surrounding bars and restaurants.
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His previous garb of nerdy suits gave way to sports coats and sneakers.
Noun
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Some of them wear face paint, camouflage uniforms, and ghillie suits — ducking in and out of foxholes cut into the ground.
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Designed to accommodate up to 10 armed soldiers at a time the whole thing can be covered with more earth for concealment and camouflage.
Noun
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The departure of Adorni — who, as Milei’s spokesperson, emerged in 2023 as the face of his strict austerity program and anti-corruption drive — costs the president one of his most trusted and longtime aides.
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Lo Celso scored on a free kick; Martinez drilled a penalty kick after Julian Alvarez was kicked in the face while attempting a header.
Cite this Entry
“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guise. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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