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

Cue eye-rolls and barely concealed expressions of incredulity. — Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "Italy Won the 2026 Winter Olympics Bid. Here’s Why That Could Be Trouble," 26 June 2019 But such mediagenic theatrics concealed a far more momentous question: Had Trump and the Democratic leadership really been at war? — Alex Pareene, The New Republic, "In search of the Democratic Party's fighting spirit," 20 June 2019 But gymnastics — when done correctly — conceals the effort that goes into it. — Dvorameyers, Longreads, "The Gymnast’s Position," 5 June 2019 For example, the necessary modern avionics are concealed in the cockpit under the fascia of a dummy autopilot. — David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, "The Return of 'That’s All, Brother': The Plane That Led the D-Day Invasion," 4 June 2019 How to conceal sunburn and tan lines: First, step back and take a look at where your burn is the most noticeable. — Julie Ricevuto, Glamour, "How to Treat a Bad Sunburn and Hide It Instantly," 28 May 2019 Each suite is composed of 200sqm features a spacious, luxurious bedroom, a concealed, semi open-air bathroom and a large living area with sliding glass doors opening on to a wooden deck with sun loungers and dining area. — Lindsay Silberman, Town & Country, "The Best Room At...Baros Maldives," 4 May 2019 What's more, men conceal pain and illness at much higher rates than women, and are three times more likely than women to die from suicide. — Melanie Hamlett, Harper's BAZAAR, "Men Have No Friends and Women Bear the Burden," 2 May 2019 Some orchestras have evolved—thanks, in part, to measures like gender-blind auditions (in which the identity of the player is concealed by a screen). — Maya Chung, The New York Review of Books, "When Women Take the Baton," 26 Mar. 2019

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")