as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 masquerade
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Bias masquerades as opinion, with no guidance and no intent to help.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Noun
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Bias masquerades as opinion, with no guidance and no intent to help.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Today’s online environment intensifies this effect, allowing a small number of loud or coordinated voices to masquerade as true consensus.
—Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerade
Noun
-
Don’t mistake the play’s opening facade for what is in fact an intricate and multi-layered performance work.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Behind this façade, a sandy path leads to a dense network of row houses.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Start with his assertion that Iran didn't pose an imminent threat.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
-
City leaders had questions about the testing process, and how to know the new gear won't pose similar issues down the line.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The design is purely utilitarian—no aesthetic pretense—but if clean, efficient slicing is the goal, this knife is built for it.—
Jamie Thilman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Under owner Carter Arnett, the restaurant has stayed true to its core identity — classic flavors, consistent execution and hospitality rooted in genuine warmth rather than pretense.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An unremarkable skit with host Tina Fey pretending to be Mary Poppins.—
Scott Bryan,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
-
That's the county JD Vance pretends to be from.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The musicians reunite for a show alongside Irreversible Entanglements, a free-jazz collective led by the poet-musician-educator Moor Mother (Camae Ayewa).—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While fans packed free concerts from the Lumineers and Orville Peck, Los Lobos — one of the biggest Chicano bands of the last 50 years — played a free show at the Downright Austin that was smaller than expected, considering the broad interest from Austin's Hispanic community.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities allege the group targeted elderly homeowners between 2021 and 2023, stealing personal information and using it to create fake IDs and email accounts to impersonate victims.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
-
No outside agencies or businesses will be able to directly hire off-duty police officers through the scheduling platform RollKall after police say a man impersonating law enforcement and killed by SWAT officers earlier this month slipped through the cracks.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Department of the Treasury last Thursday designated Hayat Yolu as a key player in a covert global network that uses the guise of humanitarian aid to raise money overseas.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
But sometimes the squashing of speech can appear in other guises.—
Andrea Valdez,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the 6-9, 250-pound Boozer started to act like his brother Cayden, getting the ball up top in a point forward role on several possessions and then driving downhill.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
-
With no evidence Austin acted in self-defense, prosecutors Mike Groh and Sarah Wendrof say Austin and Connie would be charged with second-degree murder.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerade. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
