conceal

verb

con·ceal | \ kən-ˈsēl

concealed; concealing; conceals

Definition of conceal

1 : to prevent disclosure or recognition of conceal the truth She could barely conceal her anger.

2 : to place out of sight concealed himself behind the door The defendant is accused of attempting to conceal evidence.

Other Words from conceal Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about conceal

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Other Words from conceal

concealable \ kən-ˈsē-lə-bəl

\ adjective

concealingly \ kən-ˈsē-liŋ-lē

\ adverb

concealment \ kən-ˈsēl-mənt

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for conceal

Synonyms

bury, cache, ensconce, hide, secrete

Antonyms

display, exhibit

Choose the Right Synonym for conceal

hide, conceal, screen, secrete, bury mean to withhold or withdraw from sight. hide may or may not suggest intent. hide in the closet a house hidden in the woods conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge. concealed the weapon screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery. a house screened by trees secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others. secreted the amulet inside his shirt bury implies covering up so as to hide completely. buried the treasure

Examples of conceal in a Sentence

The sunglasses conceal her eyes. The controls are concealed behind a panel. The defendant is accused of attempting to conceal evidence. The editorial accused the government of concealing the truth. She could barely conceal her anger.

Recent Examples on the Web

After spending months concealing her pregnancy with belly-obscuring peplums and A-line skirts, Cardi opted for a look that accentuated her maternity curves—plunging neckline, bump-hugging waist, and a daring leg reveal. — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "Cardi B Brought the Red Carpet to the Met Gala," 7 May 2019 At the foot of the king-size bed is an ottoman concealing a television screen; on one side there is a work desk and on the other, a cozy reading nook. — Lindsay Silberman, Town & Country, "The Best Room At...Baros Maldives," 4 May 2019 When power structures and organizations by design facilitate and conceal abuse, the court of public opinion becomes the most effective path to justice. — Tanya Selvaratnam, Glamour, "Why Candice Russell Had No Choice But Take Her Case to the Media," 2 Apr. 2019 And yes, all of that can be concealed behind a single front. — Jessica Dailey, Good Housekeeping, "Just Right," 11 Feb. 2019 Try a Root Cover Up Only have a small section to conceal or just not ready to go full-in with dye yet? — Sarah Ferguson, Marie Claire, "You've Spotted Your First Gray Hair: A Game Plan," 9 Nov. 2018 At times, the pop queen is concealed by only crime scene tape. — Nicole Demarco And Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "14 Sexy Music Videos You Definitely Shouldn't Watch at Work," 2 Nov. 2018 While the other ideas involved turning the tea lights into faces with crooked, fiery noses, this craft cleverly conceals the flame with a bit of clay. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Dollar-Store Tea Lights Make the Most Boo-tiful Halloween Ghosts Ever," 2 Oct. 2018 One protester was arrested and charged with concealing their face during a public rally and resisting arrest. — Suzannah Weiss, Teen Vogue, "University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill Students Topple Confederate Statue," 21 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conceal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for conceal

Middle English concelen, borrowed from Anglo-French conceler, borrowed from Latin concēlāre, from con- con- + cēlāre "to hide, keep secret," probably derivative of an unattested lengthened-grade noun formed from the Indo-European verb base *ḱel- "cover, conceal," whence Latin occulere "to hide from view, keep secret" (from *ob-cel-), Old Irish ceilid "(s/he) hides," Welsh celaf "(I) hide," Germanic *hel-a- "hide" (whence Old English, Old Saxon & Old High German helan "to hide, keep secret")