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Definition of masknext
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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mask

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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
Plush and smooth, the mask’s 100-percent mulberry silk composition will not only promote the sweetest and most indulgent of slumbers but also work overtime to curb bedhead and fine lines — similar to the powers of the best silk pillowcases. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026 Footage of the suspects shows them, clad in hoodies and masks, climbing over a wall and once inside the store, grabbing bags from the shelves. Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Research has shown that fruity esters can mask smoke taint, and that the molecules responsible for the cut-grass and green-apple notes of Sauvignon Blanc enhance it. Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026 Coleman will play Cheyenne Barnes, a fiercely confident hairstylist whose bold sexuality and razor-sharp wit command attention, masking the emotional scars she’s carried for years. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mask
Noun
  • The mascot is best known for his signature catch phrase and outrageous costume featuring a red cape, sunglasses and a belt decorated with Duff beer cans.
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The star also shared an adorable photo of the family’s matching Halloween costume, sharing an image of her, Luai, and Shammas wearing Batman costumes with masks and capes.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The story of the Shibuya Incident saw a mysterious veil trap countless citizens inside the busy Shibuya area.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Even the imperfections in the costume — the slightly off-shoulder veil, the asymmetry — hint at the cracks in her composure.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Nominees for foundation’s the Noble Prize include Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, who was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2014 for his democracy campaign, but managed to escape the country disguised as an electrician in 2020 while under house arrest.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Collectively, there is less tolerance for stubbornness disguised as conviction, as this transit favors multidimensional thinking and open dialogue.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The actress became pregnant with their first child while filming season 3 of The Rookie, and instead of strategically concealing her pregnancy to play Angela, creator Alexi Hawley simply wrote it into Diaz's character's storyline.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Her go-to is the Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit, a $35 at-home hair color box that conceals 100 percent of stubborn grays and enhances shine.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • There's a good chance of seeing the endangered mourning cloak butterfly in early spring.
    Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The cost is also that a religious cloak has the power to disguise what may actually lie underneath.
    Abby McCloskey, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This could be because the natural activity of supermassive black holes and the emissions that come from the accretion disk around them can camouflage TDEs.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • When asked about this tactic, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that the agency believes its employees are not camouflaging their identities.
    NPR, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • But the jury in the federal civil lawsuit found that Moore violated Gillispie's rights by hiding evidence that would have helped Gillispie's defense and creating unfair lineup procedures for the victims.
    Laura A. Bischoff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The skeletal trees, stripped of their summer green and fiery autumn leaves, stand in a white shroud of snow like stoic models of resilience and grace.
    Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
  • The Artemis 2 Orion crew capsule, inside a protective launch shroud, and its escape rocket are visible amid service platforms inside NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center.
    William Harwood, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mask. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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