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

The quest to unmask Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin, has been going on for more than a decade now, and resulted in some embarrassing misfires. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026

In second place was Pugcasso, unmasked as Phillip Phillips; with third going to Cat Witch, revealed to be Kylie Cantrall; and in fourth was Crane, who was unmasked as Normani. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026

Did the procedure lead directly to their struggles, or unmask a previous predisposition? —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026

Federal officials can then query that data and unmask the identities of Americans whose communications have been collected, a process critics say creates a backdoor way to search private citizens’ information without court approval. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 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