guise

1
2
as in costume
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in mask
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of guise Collins, who has previously celebrated the unique pleasures of the early dinner, finds something to like about lunch in all its guises—the power lunch, the liquid lunch, even the sad desk lunch. Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 25 July 2025 Anything less will imitate Trump, all in the guise of resisting him. Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025 The spherical heel is carved from lightweight cork, which appears in multiple guises in the season’s collection. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 10 July 2025 Across the nation, sightings of Roan in various guises – dentist, plumber, and more – have fueled speculation. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for guise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guise
Noun
  • The gigawatts of electricity to power this expanding technology will mean more nuclear and fossil fuel development and will end the pretense of net-zero carbon electricity.
    Peter Murphy, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The summit is being held under the pretense of discussing Putin’s three-year war in Ukraine, but the Russian has indicated his preference for the conversation to also touch on economic issues and a nuclear arms treaty.
    Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The event will also feature a cat costume contest (noon-1 p.m. both days), feline agility, and adoptable cats from local shelters.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The revival’s creative team includes Academy Award- and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers, scenic designer Teresa L. Williams, Tony Award-winning costume designer Dede Ayite and lighting designer Amanda Zieve.
    Dave Quinn, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • People can also wear an N95 respirator, a type of high-quality mask, to minimize exposure in dusty areas.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson has justified ICE agents donning masks during raids, saying they would be doxed if unmasked.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Her exit came after fans demanded the show remove her when her use of a racial slur on a past podcast appearance surfaced online.
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • In fact, backups Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall each made a late appearance with the game out of hand — in part to keep Daniels from taking any unnecessary hits.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, on Gran Roque, pastel facades peek through palm fronds, and barefoot locals steer wooden boats across glassy lagoons.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The front facade of the store at 3736 Broadway Blvd.
    Alexa Stone, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • What was the process like to get fitted for such authentic monster garb?
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The house’s original resident, James Habersham Jr., is believed by some to make appearances—often described in colonial garb, pacing the halls or quietly observing diners.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • Albinism in sharks is itself a rare occurrence and can is thought to be possibly detrimental because the lack of dark pigments reduces camouflage, making the animal more visible to predators or prey, and impacting their ability to mate with others of its species.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Denim and leather were a popular pairing, as well as camouflage and waxy coatings.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the face of increasing drought and water restrictions, the time has come to consider grass alternatives.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
  • In the face of a changing climate, reintroducing fire — often following proven Indigenous practices — is a small, positive step that can be taken to responsibly steward forests, Larson said.
    Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guise. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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