smoke screen
noun
1
: a screen of smoke to hinder enemy observation of a military force, area, or activity
2
: something designed to obscure, confuse, or mislead
Examples of smoke screen in a Sentence
His campaign promises were just a smoke screen.
The truth was hidden behind a smoke screen of lies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Politicians should weigh genuine options and be forced, to whatever extent possible, to explain their ends, rather than treat such ideals as democracy and freedom like smoke screens for secret ones.
—
Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The nominal aims of orders to, for example, stop anti-semitism or halt the teaching of diversity, equity and inclusion topics are smoke screens for an attempt to hobble institutions that are perceived to house a liberal elite.
—William Stafford Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
In the video, the drone travels up and down to reinforce the smoke screen, so it is only applied to the area needed.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Whether there is any fire behind this week’s apparent smoke screen of a meeting, or if Francis is even thinking about resigning is unknown to perhaps but a few of his closest allies, and probably not even them.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smoke screen
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Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The nominal aims of orders to, for example, stop anti-semitism or halt the teaching of diversity, equity and inclusion topics are smoke screens for an attempt to hobble institutions that are perceived to house a liberal elite.
—William Stafford Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
In the video, the drone travels up and down to reinforce the smoke screen, so it is only applied to the area needed.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Whether there is any fire behind this week’s apparent smoke screen of a meeting, or if Francis is even thinking about resigning is unknown to perhaps but a few of his closest allies, and probably not even them.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smoke screen
Cite this Entry
“Smoke screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smoke%20screen. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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