as in double
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
there was a Janus-faced quality to the interview: for all of the smiling and nodding, the interviewer's body language expressed deep boredom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Janus-faced
Adjective
-
Also consider thrifting Christmas décor, such as red or pink bows, which serve double-duty during the holidays.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026 -
Their inability to execute in the margins proved the difference in a 98-97, double-overtime loss to Indiana.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At one point, Melania is shown watching television coverage of the proceedings on CNN, apparently unconcerned that the network only traffics in fake news.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities have said the backpack contained a ghost gun, fake IDs, a notebook and other writings detailing Mangione’s grievances against the private health care system in the United States.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Nov. 2025
-
The pop of color offers a shimmer-free (rare!) means of warming up a wedding look and works equally well at lip level.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The strained awkwardness of Adelina and Alban’s gestures of generosity underscore the class disparity between the city dwellers and their relatives.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel were already severely strained after South Africa — a longtime supporter of the Palestinian people — accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in a case at the United Nations’ top court.—
Gerald Imray,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fellow Democrats Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa attack Swalwell and Porter as hypocritical, pointing to their own stricter stances on federal immigration enforcement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Democrats, who have routinely fought for stricter gun laws, flatly called the Republican stance on Pretti’s gun hypocritical in interviews with The Star.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The medical examiner’s report stated that Lunas Campos had scattered superficial abrasions on his body, hemorrhage in muscles and connective tissues on the neck, and signs of smaller hemorrhaging on the eyelids and skin of the neck.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
-
For Julissa Prado, founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, these decisions are not superficial.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Her hollow eyes and unflinching face lend Ju-Ju a gut-wrenching passivity and naivete.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Values once celebrated now appear hollow and collapsed.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Janus-faced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Janus-faced. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
