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as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place buried his face in his hands as his wife recounted the embarrassing incident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word bury distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of bury are conceal, hide, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When would conceal be a good substitute for bury?

The meanings of conceal and bury largely overlap; however, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would hide be a reasonable alternative to bury?

The synonyms hide and bury are sometimes interchangeable, but hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might screen be a better fit than bury?

While the synonyms screen and bury are close in meaning, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When is it sensible to use secrete instead of bury?

The words secrete and bury can be used in similar contexts, but secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

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 bury Peak Toews would have buried that puck; this version shanked it wide. Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 While this is a concerning update, the two sides will need to bury the hatchet for the upcoming season. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 The carcass was gone, the grass and weeds were licked clean of blood, and the knife was buried under debris. Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025 According to his wishes, he was buried in Israel at the Catholic cemetery on Mount Zion. Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury
Verb
  • She was later interred at Fairview Cemetery.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Navy personnel collected the remains of the fallen sailors from December 1941 to April 1942, which were interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu Cemeteries, the statement said.
    Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The creamy, ultra-pigmented formula contains caffeine and hyaluronic acid to depuff the under eyes, conceal dark under eye circles, and blur fine lines and wrinkles.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Some incarcerated men even accused officers of sending people to the SHU to conceal their own abuses.
    Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Rough Riders overcame a furious Arlington Heights rally in the third quarter and used a late goal-line stand to shock the Yellow Jackets in a 50-47 thriller.
    Updated October 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Johnson’s familiarity is key to bringing audiences close to Kerr and helps the film overcome its potentially alienating storyline.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In addition to being faster and scalable, fiber doesn’t hide metals worth extracting and reselling.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Turns out, Kelce was hiding more than just nerves.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lawrence threw a long pass that went off the hands of Jaguars receiver Tim Patrick, then deflected off Chiefs defensive back Trent McDuffie.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Pinned inside their own 20-yard line, Lawrence threw a short pass intended for receiver Parker Washington.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Brood parasites such as cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the hosts into caring for their offspring at the expense of their own.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • In the opening scene, Swift is seen laying inside a painting with long blond hair and side bangs.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This flowy, breathable midi dress is going to provide coverage when a cool breeze comes through, without leaving you feeling smothered on a warm October day.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, the Cowboys played Cover 2, and that look was smothered, so Love checked the ball down to running back Emanuel Wilson, who tried to make cornerback DaRon Bland miss with an inside move but was tackled for a loss of 1 with the clock running.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In order to become proper Chinese third graders—to go all the way from Heaven to tomb—Natasha and Ariel needed to memorize a total of sixteen hundred characters.
    Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023

Cite this Entry

“Bury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bury. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bury

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