cover-up
noun
cov·er-up
ˈkə-vər-ˌəp 
1
a
: a device or stratagem for masking or concealing
his garrulousness is a cover-up for insecurity
b
: a usually concerted effort to keep an illegal or unethical act or situation from being made public
2
: a loose outer garment
Examples of cover-up in a Sentence
that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder
Recent Examples on the Web
That would make the pills found in Megan’s system a cover-up by the assailant, and she would have been forced to take them.
—
Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Flores says Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is a leading candidate for governor of California, hid the causes of a mounting epidemic of jail deaths behind a culture of cover-up and retaliation.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
There’s corruption, cover-ups, a tabloid journalist (Danny DeVito) whispering in people’s ears, and a Veronica Lake lookalike named Lynn (Kim Basinger, who won an Oscar for her performance) who’s caught in the middle of everything.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The timing and bluntness of Musk’s statement ignited social platforms, as supporters and skeptics alike debated the possibility of corporate malfeasance or cover-up.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cover-up
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.
Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Flores says Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is a leading candidate for governor of California, hid the causes of a mounting epidemic of jail deaths behind a culture of cover-up and retaliation.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
There’s corruption, cover-ups, a tabloid journalist (Danny DeVito) whispering in people’s ears, and a Veronica Lake lookalike named Lynn (Kim Basinger, who won an Oscar for her performance) who’s caught in the middle of everything.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The timing and bluntness of Musk’s statement ignited social platforms, as supporters and skeptics alike debated the possibility of corporate malfeasance or cover-up.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cover-up
Cite this Entry
“Cover-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover-up. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share