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 Space-saving custom joinery was adopted, allowing for the creation of a modern kitchen, hidden sleeping nook, and concealed storage in one continuous form. New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2025 Which indicates that her tough-guy act is a front to conceal her own vulnerability. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025 Immigration advocates, attorneys and civil litigators are warning against the normalization of federal agents concealing their faces while detaining nonviolent students. Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 The real debate was, of course, little different — except that millions of Americans could now see in real time what Biden’s intimate associates had been concealing from them for many months. Fintan O’Toole, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceal
Verb
  • Liv is forced to break up with her human fiancé, Major (Robert Buckley) to avoid infecting him, and becomes estranged from her best friend and roommate Peyton (Aly Michalka), hiding her new zombie nature from both.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Unfortunately, the cause of the odor is often hidden.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The recipient's name was obscured, and it was noted that the migrant refused to sign it on Friday.
    Andrew Chung, Luc Cohen, Kristina Cooke, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • But the short-term bump in the stock price obscures a much more complicated picture.
    Justin Worland, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The election of a pope can be interrupted, not stopped The pope's funeral will end when his wooden coffin is taken in procession from St. Peter's Basilica to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the church in Rome where he will be buried.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • But Pope Francis chose to be buried in Rome, at the Basilica of St. Mary Major — about 2.5 miles away.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The players argue the defendants have suppressed players’ earnings and other professional opportunities.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Incretin drugs mimic certain gut hormones to suppress a person’s appetite and regulate blood sugar.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • More: Obamacare covers cancer screening and cholesterol meds.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Prior to The Bee, Smith covered high school sports at the Citrus Heights Sentinel.
    Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Misleading consumers for cash, brands often use good-sounding terms to disguise dirty business practices that require an exploitation of water, humans, and other resources.
    Essence, Essence, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The malware hides original files on the USB and replaces them with malicious scripts disguised as normal-looking shortcuts.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conceal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceal. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on conceal

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