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hide

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verb (2)

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hide

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury, conceal, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might bury be a better fit than hide?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When could conceal be used to replace hide?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would screen be a reasonable alternative to hide?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would secrete be a good substitute for hide?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, 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 hide
Verb
Continue reading … GOALIE GAMBIT – Blues goaltender explains decision to hide Alex Ovechkin's milestone puck during game. FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025 He is reported by Colombian news media to be under Justice Department investigation for allegedly helping the Maduro regime hide millions. Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
After all, eminence can be a solitary business, not least for someone with as tough a hide as Hopkins’s. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025 There were so many sensations with me now, like burrs stuck to the hide of a passing animal. Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hide
Noun
  • Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time to hunt beavers for their pelts.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time to hunt beavers for their pelts.
    John Tufts, IndyStar, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Natasha opted for a brown strapless leather maxi dress, while her younger sister, Ella, wore a gray-and-white pinstripe blazer and skirt paired with a simple black shirt.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Downstairs, Bennett is watching the preparations on a monitor when a contestant named Angel, portraying Vixen, strides onto the screen in a long green vest and snug-fitting black leather pants.
    Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • His fur was singed and bitten, his arm broken, and his mouth crawling with maggots.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Another possible explanation for the name is that this was also the season when people set beaver traps during the fur trade.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This is Ballard shedding his skin and trying to maximize a surprise Super Bowl window that appeared to be boarded up just 10 months ago, when his team missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Her skin was smooth, soaking up the light; her hair was thick, long and heavy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • All face charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and additional juvenile cases may be under seal.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Pour over eggs; squeeze out excess air and seal bag.
    Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The top coat gave it an extra gel-like finish.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The ready-to-wear collection includes coats, tailoring and knitwear, shirts, dresses and custom prints.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hide. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on hide

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