reveal

Definition of revealnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reveal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reveal are betray, disclose, divulge, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

When is betray a more appropriate choice than reveal?

The words betray and reveal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When can disclose be used instead of reveal?

While in some cases nearly identical to reveal, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When could divulge be used to replace reveal?

While the synonyms divulge and reveal are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can tell take the place of reveal?

The synonyms tell and reveal are sometimes interchangeable, but tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

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 reveal The site revealed a complex agricultural society dating back millennia, fundamentally rewriting Southeast Asian prehistory, the scholars say. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026 While this is where the book Sea of Monsters ends, the show continues on to reveal that they’d all been lied to about the real reason that Zeus turned Thalia into a tree in the first place. Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026 But when Gabriella is revealed to be a new student at East High, her inability to agree to the set social hierarchy quickly catches fire. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2026 It’s been a while since Toyota revealed plans to launch the new electric C-HR SUV. New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reveal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reveal
Verb
  • Perhaps most seriously, the latest filing discloses that through early March, DOGE staffers were sharing Social Security data with each other via the third party service Cloudflare, which isn’t approved for storing Social Security data and isn’t subject to the agency’s privacy protections.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Police also did not disclose the exact relationship of those involved in the shooting, which rattled residents in the quiet co-op building to their core.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Video shows violent incident Police released surveillance video showing two children running toward a duck in the 300 block of Southwest 8th Avenue on Sunday.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Tests show the design consistently doubles material flow.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Where has the medallion been discovered in past years?
    Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Yet, as any visitor stalled in traffic or fumbling for cash to top up a transit card discovers, the old Seoul persists beneath the new.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Museum curators were inspired to create the exhibition in an effort to display items that wouldn't otherwise be seen, Sarah Crawford, director of museum experience at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, told ABC News.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Busy moms and young kids alike will love that this under-$20 turntable displays snacks in an easily accessible way, and can be used one-handed.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Buyers routinely uncover issues that must be fixed before closing.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • In 2022, during the Biden administration, federal prosecutors uncovered a scheme to defraud a pandemic meals program in Minnesota’s Somali community, leading to charges against dozens of defendants and a growing number of convictions.
    Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • My hope is that by opening a film set in a room full of folks dealing with drug addiction that people can hopefully learn to care for and love them, and that can have a large impact by challenging our assumptions about people and help demonstrate paths forward.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The incident demonstrated how little current space traffic monitors know about the behavior of stuff returning from orbit.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Police added that Lattimore was arrested for not telling the officer there was a gun inside the vehicle when asked.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Federal prosecutors have launched a new criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, after a grand jury previously declined to indict her twice on unrelated criminal charges, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
    Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Travel has a funny way of exposing weak links in your wardrobe, and shoes are always the first to betray you.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026
  • From the penultimate floor of London’s luxe 45 Park Lane hotel, the capital’s skyline is betrayed by dreary, grayish clouds.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reveal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reveal. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

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