mask 1 of 2

1
as in costume
a cover or partial cover for the face used to disguise oneself an elaborate mask that would be suitable for a fancy masquerade ball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

mask

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mask differ from other similar words?

The words cloak and disguise are common synonyms of mask. While all three words mean "to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature," mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

When is cloak a more appropriate choice than mask?

Although the words cloak and mask have much in common, cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

When can disguise be used instead of mask?

The words disguise and mask can be used in similar contexts, but disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

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 mask
Noun
In 2021, a group of parents challenged a DeSantis executive order that stopped school mask mandates. Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025 But six months is still a long time to remember who everybody is on a show with dozens of speaking roles, most of them played by actors in identical jumpsuits, and/or wearing masks. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Verb
This reality underscores a broader truth: In the Islamic Republic, legal texts often mask the informal mechanisms that truly govern political life. Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025 Some of the agents were masked, wore armor and carried rifles. Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mask
Noun
  • The costume designer is Tilly Grimes, whom Goldstein has worked with before.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025
  • Other Tonys went to the show’s director, choreographer, orchestrating team and its scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Previously, veils of grandeur — or length — were reserved for royal nuptials.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
  • The veil between the online and offline realms feels thin as Zoomers socialize in their Zoomer way: playful, anarchic, yet always aware of the camera.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • But dark secrets and hormones become issues, thanks to their latest enemy: demons disguised as a hunky boy band.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • Plus, the blend of neutral shades disguises dirt and debris and works with a variety of decor styles.
    Shea Simmons, People.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • Iconic pin-up Jayne Mansfield has an affair in the midst of her separation from Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay and conceals it from the world, returning to Hargitay, who welcomes the baby as his own and continues to raise when Mansfield tragically dies in a car accident at only 34 years old.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 26 June 2025
  • The amber liquid is concealed by a ceramic decanter designed by sculptor Ivan Venkov; a conscious brand choice to pay homage to Mexico’s artisanal traditions.
    Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Set in the year 3333 on a desolate alien world, players take on the role of the Swordsman, a somewhat blank slate character with minimalist features clad in a tattered cloak.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
  • The series also serves as the MCU’s introduction of spectral magic meeting tech via the villainous character The Hood (Anthony Ramos), a low-level criminal who stumbles upon a magical cloak powered by the same forces depicted in Doctor Strange.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • For most pet parents, design choices meant to accommodate their furry (or feathered, or scaled) friends are relatively simple ones: choosing performance materials that can withstand chewing, clawing and general-purpose romping, and color palettes that camouflage fur.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2025
  • Hovering around it all is the pending debut of the park’s latest attraction: the Indominus rex, a dinosaur genetically engineered from other dinos’ DNA by Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong), and which can both camouflage itself and mask its heat signature.
    Will Harris, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The palette is a unique blend of pink, tan, and hints of blue-green that add a subtle amount of color while still hiding dirt and debris.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 26 June 2025
  • Transparency is another issue: Pricing for procedures varies wildly and is often hidden until the bill arrives.
    Paulina Wierzbicka, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Later, before the funeral, the child's father, Mahmoud, kisses his son’s feet, the white shroud stained with bright-red blood.
    Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 21 May 2025
  • Once in space, the rocket releases the payload shroud, usually in two halves.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mask. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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