mas·quer·ade | \ ˌma-skə-ˈrād 
\
\Definition of masquerade
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : a social gathering of persons wearing masks and often fantastic costumes
b : a costume for wear at such a gathering
2 : an action or appearance that is mere disguise or show
masquerade
verbmasqueraded; masquerading
Definition of masquerade (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : to disguise oneself also : to go about disguised
b : to take part in a masquerade
2 : to assume the appearance of something one is not
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Synonyms for masquerade
Synonyms: Noun
- act,
- airs,
- charade,
- disguise,
- facade
- (also façade),
- front,
- guise,
- playacting,
- pose,
- pretense
- (or pretence),
- put-on,
- semblance,
- show
Examples of masquerade in a Sentence
Noun
She could not keep up the masquerade any longer.
although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on Verb
He was masquerading under a false name.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Of course, Joe and Jerry are also motivated to perpetuate their masquerade by that oldest of drives: plain old lust.
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Peter Tonguette, WSJ, "Life-or-Death Laughter," 9 Oct. 2020 Or the reckless ecstasy of unhinged saccharine and homemade masquerade that is Halloween in the hood that gave me permission to reimagine myself.
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Junauda Petrus-nasah, Star Tribune, "Author Junauda Petrus-Nasah reflects on fall and the wild magic of leaves," 16 Sep. 2020 The blog post is light on details—the where, when, and how of Krug’s masquerade.
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Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, "The Layered Deceptions of Jessica Krug, the Black-Studies Professor Who Hid That She Is White," 12 Sep. 2020 For this masquerade, he had been mercilessly lampooned in Northern caricature as a coward in drag—portrayed in hoopskirts and a ludicrous bonnet.
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Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, "How Northern Publishers Cashed In on Fundraising for Confederate Monuments," 7 July 2020 But perhaps the most baffling part of the Lincoln Project, and their campaign for #LincolnVoters, is the masquerade that the super PAC is suddenly promoting a Democratic agenda.
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Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, "The Lincoln Project Isn’t Good For America — It’s Only Good For Self-Pitying Republicans," 5 Aug. 2020 At one point, Annie and Isabel attend a masquerade dressed as the morning and the night, respectively.
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Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "Early Short Story by Louisa May Alcott Published for the First Time," 26 June 2020 The masquerade parades, parties, and all out celebration of Bajan culture spills into every part of the island.
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Shalwah Evans, Essence, "Must-Have Beauty Products For These Must-Visit Travel Destinations," 7 Jan. 2020 Other highlights included Friday afternoon’s masquerade march and a parade with floats and flamboyantly costumed marching groups.
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USA TODAY, "Superstorm art, Key West Fantasy Fest, pine cone plan: News from around our 50 states," 28 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Could enforced confinement in another country masquerade as a vacation?
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Lilly Graves, Travel + Leisure, "What It’s Really Like to Quarantine Abroad for 2 Weeks, According a Traveler Who Did It," 26 Sep. 2020 To keep with the old-but-new aesthetic, seek out a variety of portraits and botanical prints that masquerade as if they were salvaged from an old library or estate sale.
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Jessica Dailey, Good Housekeeping, "How to Seriously Cozy Up a Guest Bedroom," 14 Sep. 2020 Now, widowed and thrown into Bedlam by scheming family members, Patience has to masquerade as a nanny for her newborn son while being overseen by her son’s new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington.
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Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, "Hot Stuff: June romances embrace the inherent sexiness of faking it," 30 June 2020 Rhys won an Emmy in 2018 for his portrayal of KGB agent Phillip Jennings, who joined forces with a female agent, Keri Russell’s Elizabeth, to masquerade as a suburban couple.
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Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, "The five TV shows we can’t get enough of this week," 29 June 2020 Because for the past few years the actress has masqueraded flawlessly—on red carpets and in high-fashion editorial shoots and on set—as TV's chicest assassin.
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Neha Prakash, Marie Claire, "Jodie Comer on Playing TV's Chicest (and Cheekiest) Assassin," 26 Apr. 2020 This assault on human decency which is masquerading as a supposedly scientific experiment must not be allowed to continue.
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oregonlive, "Animal rights groups decries ‘barbaric’ electric shock experiments on ferrets at OHSU," 15 Apr. 2020 After Sanders' remarks at the debate, some social media analysts were skeptical of the notion that Russians already were masquerading as the candidate's supporters.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Sanders is briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign," 21 Feb. 2020 Gathering along the city’s subway lines Friday night, many protest supporters masqueraded as Winnie the Pooh or Guy Fawkes.
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Washington Post, "Hong Kong protesters mock China leaders, defy face mask ban," 19 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'masquerade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for masquerade
masquerade
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of masquerade
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a party at which people wear masks and often costumes
: a way of appearing or behaving that is not true or real
masquerade
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of masquerade (Entry 2 of 2)
: to pretend to be someone or something else
See the full definition for masquerade in the English Language Learners Dictionary
masquerade
nounmas·quer·ade | \ ˌma-skə-ˈrād \
\Kids Definition of masquerade
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a party (as a dance) at which people wear masks and costumes
2 : the act of pretending to be something different
His friendliness was just a masquerade.
masquerade
verbmasqueraded; masquerading
Kids Definition of masquerade (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to wear a disguise
2 : to pretend to be something different : pose He was masquerading as a policeman.
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Time Traveler for masquerade
The first known use of masquerade was in 1587
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