disguise

verb

dis·guise | \ də-ˈskīz

, dis-ˈgīz also diz-\

disguised; disguising

Definition of disguise

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to change the customary dress (see dress entry 2 sense 1) or appearance of disguised herself in a wig and glasses

b : to furnish with a false appearance or an assumed (see assume sense 3) identity disguised as a beggar

2 obsolete : disfigure

3 : to obscure the existence or true state or character of : conceal unable to disguise his true feelings

disguise

noun

Definition of disguise (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : apparel assumed to conceal one's identity or counterfeit another's The bank robber was wearing a disguise.

2 : the act of disguising

3a : form misrepresenting the true nature of something blessings in disguise

b : an artificial manner : pretense threw off all disguise

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

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Other Words from disguise

Verb

disguisedly \ də-ˈskīz(-ə)d-lē

, dis-ˈgīz(-ə)d- also diz- \ adverb

disguisement \ də-ˈskīz-mənt

, dis-ˈgīz- also diz- \ noun

disguiser noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for disguise

Synonyms: Verb

camouflage, cloak, dress up, mask

Synonyms: Noun

camouflage, costume, guise

Antonyms: Verb

unmask

Choose the Right Synonym for disguise

Verb

disguise, cloak, mask mean to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature. disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity. disguised herself as a peasant cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention. cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something. smiling to mask his discontent

Examples of disguise in a Sentence

Verb

He tried to disguise his voice on the phone but I could tell it was him. She disguised herself in a wig and glasses. We disguised the fact that we were disappointed.

Noun

He wore a disguise of glasses, a fake mustache, and a cap. The famous thief is known to be a master of disguise.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

What amazes me the most about the progressive takeover of Colorado is how much of it is blatant corporatism disguised as virtue-signaling. — Jon Caldara, The Denver Post, "Caldara: In Colorado you’re still paying for rich folks to buy a luxury second car," 7 June 2019 Australian airline Qantas has teamed up with Airbnb to hide first-class tickets on their site disguised as listings. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "You Could Score First-Class Airline Tickets On Airbnb For Just $20," 24 May 2019 For those unfamiliar with the newer games, Mimikyu is a Pokémon that disguises itself as a Pikachu to make friends. — Gabe Bergado, Teen Vogue, ""Pokémon Detective Pikachu" Star Justice Smith on the Power of Representation, Fans Dressing Up as Tim Goodman, and Sequel Ideas," 17 May 2019 The man accused of stealing a horn shark from a Texas aquarium Saturday by disguising the fish as a baby may have posed as a salt supplier about a month ago to stake out the exhibit and prepare for the heist, staff members said. — Katherine Lam, Fox News, "Texas aquarium shark thief may have posed as supplier to stake out exhibit, staff says," 1 Aug. 2018 That email was then laundered through WikiLeaks to disguise its origins and the entirety of it was posted online with no regard to privacy or newsworthiness. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "Mueller’s new indictments remind us of 2 core truths about the Trump-Russia story," 13 July 2018 An agent of the trafficking gangs is able to pick up the money at the location and transfer it again and again to disguise its origins. — CNN, "First they were burned and whipped, then their families were sent the videos," 13 Mar. 2018 Perhaps the most affecting memory is that of civil rights leader Xernona Clayton, who recalls taking out her powder compact to disguise the clumsy work of the mortician on King's face, when his body lay in state at Spelman College. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'King in the Wilderness': Film Review | Sundance 2018," 23 Jan. 2018 Other women also disguised themselves in order to fight. — Teen Vogue, "Mexican Revolutionary Petra Herrera Posed as a Man to Fight for Her Country," 1 Apr. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Rice, who now gets more than half of his income from blue catfish, said the invaders have been a blessing in disguise. — Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "As blue catfish multiply in Chesapeake Bay, watermen pursue new catch — and restaurants offer new delicacy," 7 June 2019 The decision to bring them back was actually a nod to a buzzy theory where fans thought Arya was actually the Waif in disguise. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jaqen H'ghar and The Waif Filmed a Fake Game of Thrones Finale Scene," 28 May 2019 To ensure the chicks don’t take to people, keepers wear the disguises to hide the human shape and obscure the face. — Washington Post, "Louisiana’s whooping crane comeback: 5 chicks this year," 13 July 2018 Insurance was part of the normalizing disguise that Bob and the Family Parr wore to hide the brilliant gifts that are at once their calling and their art (and sometimes their burden). — Brad Bird, New York Times, "Review: ‘Incredibles 2’ Is a Fast Blast (With Red Flags)," 13 June 2018 In that movie, researchers in Antarctica are plagued by a parasitic being that's able to assimilate into/imitate other humans — is this a hint that some of the people in Hawkins are going to turn out to be Upside-Downers in disguise? — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, "'Stranger Things 3' Promises to Be Funny, Harrowing, and Full of '80s References," 24 May 2019 Proponents of either theory point towards a number of clues: that the Titanic didn't allow for a public examination before its voyage—out of fear that it would be found out by experts as Olympic in disguise, theorists claim. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Wild Conspiracy That the Titanic Never Sank," 27 Feb. 2019 Sweidan said Cohen left the store as soon as his disguise was ruined. — Kathleen Joyce, Fox News, "Sacha Baron Cohen's controversies: From 'Borat' lawsuits to box office flops," 7 Aug. 2018 Each mission is full of myriad routes to your objective, planned or not, involving silly disguises and gadgets and truly surprising amounts of rat poison. — Julie Muncy, Ars Technica, "Hitman 2 review: Accessible stealth oozing with style," 16 Nov. 2018

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