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2
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

3

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 Interestingly enough, Lesnar and Paul Heyman buried the hatchet last weekend, with the former advocate even introducing Brock for his match against Cena. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 He will be buried at Saint Michael Cemetery, located at 1300 Ellison Ave. Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025 Closer to the volcano, acid rain would have contaminated water supplies, and thick layers of ash would have buried animals and vegetation. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025 O’Handley buried the 1-0 lead in the first for Andover. Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury
Verb
  • However, the Oregon State Police Medical Examiner’s Office Human Identification Program learned the unidentified remains were likely interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City during a subsequent investigation.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Those interred came from a nearby reform facility.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The family travelled north from Central America for weeks, crossing rivers by night and riding concealed in smugglers’ trucks.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Gardner orchestrates the scene; placing the girl in the center, then asking her, or perhaps even demonstrating, how to wrap the blanket around her body so her hands are concealed.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But to restore the city’s community gathering place, Sunrise Mall must overcome a wary economy and consumers’ disinterest in brick-and-mortar retail.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In the 2023 season, however, the Panthers stunned the Eagles in a regional semifinal playoff game, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And Kirsten Dunst plays Leigh Wainscott, the Charlotte mom Manchester dated while hiding out off Independence Boulevard.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
  • In the trailer, the three men get right to their antics with a broken vase, hiding a dead body, a dynamic SWAT entry, and running in an attempt to escape.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Mahomes also spoke about the Chiefs’ win, which was by far the best Kansas City has looked this season and marked the first time since 2023 that Mahomes threw four touchdowns in a game.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • González had sentenced four young men to prison for throwing Molotov cocktails at a police chief’s vehicle and at an intelligence officer’s house in the town of Encrucijada, where Ferrer’s family lives.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Right-back Kayode then laid the ball off to midfield colleague Yehor Yarmolyuk, who flighted a pass down the right channel between Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, two of United’s back three.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The shooting in Columbia laid bare simmering disputes across the country over gun violence at or near college campuses, major travel destinations for fans, alumni and parents of students.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Tight end Dalton Kincaid continues to be a steady target in the middle of the field, and the Buffalo defense has been just as dominant, smothering passing attacks and forcing timely turnovers.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 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 3 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bury

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