veiled

adjective

ˈvāld 

1

a

: having or wearing a veil or a concealing cover

a veiled hat

b

: characterized by a softening tonal distortion

2

: obscured as if by a veil : disguised

veiled threats

Examples of veiled in a Sentence

She looked at him with barely veiled contempt.

The report makes veiled references to his criminal activities.

Recent Examples on the Web

The author also varies the texture of the book by inserting poems, quotations, dramatic dialogue, a veiled account of her unhappy days at boarding school, and a lengthy digression on the German mystic Friederike Hauffe, who claimed to be clairvoyant and to communicate with spirits. —James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025

Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 31 May 2025

Critics, however, say the bans would not solve issues around food insecurity and may be a veiled attempt at reducing benefits. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a veiled swipe at President Trump and his ongoing tariff fight as Xi traveled to Southeast Asia this week to build China’s partnerships with fellow communist country Vietnam. —Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for veiled

• assailed
• availed
• bewailed
• blackmailed
• curtailed
• derailed
• detailed
• dovetailed
• emailed
• entailed
• exhaled
• impaled