Synonym Chooser

How is the word conceal distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conceal are bury, hide, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

When would bury be a good substitute for conceal?

While the synonyms bury and conceal are close in meaning, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

Where would hide be a reasonable alternative to conceal?

The synonyms hide and conceal are sometimes interchangeable, but hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might screen be a better fit than conceal?

The words screen and conceal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When is secrete a more appropriate choice than conceal?

While in some cases nearly identical to conceal, secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

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 conceal Another tough outing has some wondering if the arm sleeve is thinly concealing a nagging injury. Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 11 May 2025 Nuns prepare meals such as lamb skewers, boiled vegetables and spaghetti, avoiding foods that could be used to conceal communication. Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025 The obvious question is, what is driving professionals to conceal their AI usage? Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 The alleged smuggler, a Mexican citizen, was arrested on suspicion of hiding the birds in nylon stockings concealed inside his boots. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceal
Verb
  • Lastly, clean up any rotting wood or loose leaves from your property to give these ants fewer places to hide.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
  • Their highlight reels hide the daily grind that actually creates results.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Again the water spray obscured what happened there just before the twister lost its power.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
  • Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were almost good enough to obscure the absence of Brown and Tatum in the game’s final 20 minutes.
    Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • Cause of death: There are several causes of death because Ulric receives the nine lives of a cat: shot in the head, drowned, hanged, car crash, electrocuted, crossbow, stabbed, suffocated after burying himself alive. Sad or satisfying?
    Carrie Wittmer, Vulture, 19 May 2025
  • When managers bury the message in a compliment sandwich, it gets lost.
    Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Orwell authored 1984, a bleak vision of the future where an authoritarian regime weaponizes language to suppress independent thought and rewrite history.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • However, consistent, long-term stress can wear down your immune system, exposing you to inflammation and suppressing your body's response to infections.2 UTIs occur when the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, is infected.
    Brittany Dube, Health, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Sessions will cover safety and situational awareness and include basic self-defense skills.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • It can usually be disguised as fairness or reciprocity and may not seem harmful at first.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • In the film, Pike’s Miranda Frost, a Harvard grad and Olympic fencer, disguises herself as a fellow member of MI6, only to later be revealed as a double agent.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 13 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conceal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceal. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on conceal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!