unmask

verb

un·​mask ˌən-ˈmask 

unmasked; unmasking; unmasks

transitive verb

1

: to reveal the true nature of : expose

She was unmasked as a spy.

2

: to remove a mask from

intransitive verb

: to remove one's mask

Synonyms of unmask

• reveal
• disclose
• discover
• uncover
• expose
• tell

Examples of unmask in a Sentence

He was unmasked as a spy.

the killer's identity won't be unmasked until the season's final episode

Recent Examples on the Web

Some hurried to try to unmask the anonymous woman behind the accusations. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Sporting black turtlenecks a la Steve Jobs, Holmes first gained renown and then infamy as the tech was unmasked as fraudulent by the Wall Street Journal and a subsequent federal investigation. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

The good news is that these sites are easy to unmask, and none of the checks require special tools. — Boris Dzhingarov, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Pangram has recently been credited with helping implode a lucrative book deal and unmasking AI use at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for unmask

• subtask
• ask
• bask
• basque
• cask
• casque
• flask
• mask
• masque
• pasch
• task

Kids Definition

unmask

verb

un·​mask ˌən-ˈmask 

ˈən-

: to strip of a mask or a disguise : expose

unmask a traitor