Synonyms of disguise

disguise 1 of 2

noun

1

as in costume

clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else

Mardi Gras revelers dressed in a colorful array of outlandish disguises

Synonyms & Similar Words

• costume
• mask
• camouflage
• guise
• veil
• paint
• dress
• visor
• coloring
• vizor
• rig
• domino
• vizard
• makeup
• cosmetic
• getup
• outfit
• costumery

2

as in guise

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive

somehow, he managed to put on a disguise of happiness as he watched his secret crush marry someone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guise
• facade
• show
• pretense
• pose
• act
• masquerade
• pretence
• façade
• charade
• cloak
• front
• semblance
• airs
• pretext
• appearance
• put-on
• playacting
• camouflage
• performance
• persona
• portrayal
• impersonation
• deception
• excuse
• image
• affectation
• duplicity
• betrayal
• deceit
• dissimulation
• gloss
• treachery
• fraud
• guile
• treason
• color
• perfidy
• falseness
• fakery
• dissembling
• double-dealing
• falsity
• faithlessness
• double cross
• infidelity
• unfaithfulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• directness
• candor
• straightforwardness
• bluntness
• forthrightness
• outspokenness
• naïveté
• naiveté
• candidness
• artlessness
• naivete
• genuineness
• plainspokenness
• openheartedness

disguise

2 of 2

verb

də-ˈskīz 

1

as in to camouflage

to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity

the spies disguised themselves as harmless tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

• camouflage
• mask
• conceal
• hide
• cloak
• simulate
• obscure
• cover
• pose
• masquerade
• assume
• affect
• dress up
• veil
• pretend
• screen
• dissimulate
• curtain
• feign
• play
• blot out
• shroud
• enshroud
• dissemble
• occult
• sham
• counterfeit
• fake
• blanket
• impersonate
• act
• whitewash
• varnish
• gild
• gloss (over)
• cosmeticize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unmask
• show
• expose
• display
• uncover
• flaunt
• exhibit
• parade
• unveil
• reveal
• disclose
• discover
• betray
• divulge
• uncloak
• bare
• unclothe
• undrape

2

as in to conceal

to keep secret or shut off from view

that investigative reporter usually does a good job of disguising her true motives for interviewing a person

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conceal
• hide
• obscure
• cover
• mask
• suppress
• cloak
• veil
• curtain
• blot out
• camouflage
• occult
• shroud
• blanket
• paper over
• belie
• overshadow
• screen
• enshroud
• bury
• block
• cover (up)
• smother
• whitewash
• shade
• obstruct
• varnish
• gloss (over)
• gild
• darken
• occlude
• eclipse
• cloud
• overcast
• becloud
• bedim
• befog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reveal
• show
• disclose
• expose
• display
• uncover
• divulge
• present
• unveil
• bare
• unmask
• bring out
• uncloak
• clarify
• illuminate
• advertise
• get out
• spread
• proclaim
• publish
• publicize
• broadcast
• air

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disguise differ from other similar words?

The words cloak and mask are common synonyms of disguise. While all three words mean "to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature," disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

When is cloak a more appropriate choice than disguise?

The words cloak and disguise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

When might mask be a better fit than disguise?

The synonyms mask and disguise are sometimes interchangeable, but mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disguise

Noun

In a moment of sly genius, Duke gained entry by concealing himself as one of Lyle’s ghostly henchmen using a rubber band and a piece of white tissue as his disguise. —Hazlitt, 18 June 2025

Creative minds in Hollywood and the entertainment industry have long had a role at the Central Intelligence Agency, devising clever solutions to its most vexing problems, such as perfecting the art of disguise and harnessing a magician’s ability to cast spellbinding illusions. —Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025

Verb

This is martial law disguised as law-and-order—the oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook. —John Whitehead, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025

Universities should focus on real education, not activism disguised as curriculum. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025