charade

noun

shə-ˈrād How to pronounce charade (audio)
Definition of charadenext
as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive put on a convincing charade to keep her from knowing about the surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 charade This could give divers a simple way to communicate status information without speaking, writing, or frantic underwater charades. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026 Indeed, Congress periodically engages in a debt ceiling charade, which wastes a lot of time and energy and limits nothing. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 15 July 2026 The referee then has to stand in front of the monitor, hands on hips, and go through a charade of free will. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026 Monikers is a party game that progresses from clue-giving to charades, perfect for inside jokes and big groups. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for charade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charade
  1. pretense
  2. facade
  3. show
  4. guise
  5. act
  6. pose
  7. masquerade
Noun
  • The application moves away from last-minute stress, unwanted items, and polite pretense, establishing a modern channel for intentional giving.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And the idea that yakuza were on the side of the common man was rarely anything more than a pretense.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretense
Noun
  • Underneath that façade was a sociopathic white supremacist neo-Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day.
    — Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Starting in 2027, the Plaza Hotel will embark on a four-year-long renovation of its marble façade.
    — Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of facade
Noun
  • For years, the show's staff has begun each morning with a long meeting about the day's news, and what should and should not be included in the two-hour broadcast.
    — Scott Detrow, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Presley Gerber followed his mom's footsteps into modeling, being signed by IMG Models at 15 years old and walking runway shows for brands including Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of show
Noun
  • In street-legal guise, the original Shelby Cobra 427 S/C MKIII comprised a run of only 31 examples in period.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of guise
Noun
  • People went through the admission and security checkpoints without issues, and the event’s early evening acts enjoyed mostly dry stages with light, intermittent rain.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • To assure further compliance, Section 5 of the act required those states to get approval from the Justice Department or a court before making any changes to their electoral systems.
    — Jeffrey Toobin, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of act
Noun
  • After changing into his stage costume, V brushes his teeth and catches RM doing elaborate frog-pose stretches to limber up for the high-energy performance.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Participants trade exaggerated gestures, movements and poses, and the crowd’s reaction decides the winner.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pose
Noun
  • Kicking it all off is a masquerade ball where masks and sparkling costumes are the norm.
    — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Each show has a different theme that will transport you to an over-the-top setting, from a masquerade ball to old Hollywood.
    — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of masquerade

Browse Nearby Words

character sketches
charade
charades
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Cite this Entry

“Charade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charade. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charade

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