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 However, averages conceal a lot, and not all cars are becoming more expensive. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2025 The girl's body was concealed under a log in a waterway between 7:40 p.m. and 9:12 p.m. Saturday, according to the felony complaint. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2025 Following the shooting, Orona took deliberate steps to conceal the vehicle used in the crime and involved his girlfriend, Yessenia Gracia Rocha, in a plan to evade law enforcement, the news release said. Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 20 July 2025 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday read a letter from a physician aimed at addressing public concerns over visible swelling in former President Trump's ankles and bruising on his hand, which had been concealed with makeup. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceal
Verb
  • But these unremarkable principles hide a dramatic shift in the relationship between science and government.
    David Michaels, The Atlantic, 20 July 2025
  • More than a month after the shooting, police located the vehicle Orona had driven, hidden on a Buckeye property owned by his girlfriend’s family.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • By the time of totality at 3:20 p.m., dense clouds obscured the view, with an eerie darkness and a golden horizon.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • He was either shrouded in haze (the gasps of the fog machine eventually became indistinguishable from the vapor being collectively exhaled by the crowd) or obscured by low-angle backlighting.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Visualizations, correlation maps and plain-language summaries must be built into the interface—not buried in logs or reserved for advanced users.
    Karthik Sj, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • The incident happened on the outskirts of northwestern Goodyear, where a man was buried with dirt inside a trench at a construction site in a developing neighborhood, which led to a rescue operation that went on until the man's body was found the next morning.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Past research, Jansen notes, has found that cannabis can suppress the immune system through its active compounds: CBD, THC and other minor cannabinoids.
    Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • Sandra Lynn Hemme filed the suit Thursday, which accuses investigators of fabricating evidence, coercing a false confession and suppressing evidence that could have proven her innocence.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • And when the stock goes up, hedge funds have to pay money to cover their shorts or could sell their position.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • Add oil and 1/4 cup of the chicken broth; cover and cook over medium for 6 minutes if using chicken breasts, or 8 minutes if using thighs, stirring once halfway through (chicken will not be fully cooked).
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • State climate litigation is a political tool disguised as policy.
    Albert R. Wynn, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2025
  • Osbourne made a surprise cameo near the film’s end, helping Nicky defeat one of his villains — who is disguised as a bat — by biting off its head, an homage to one of the rock star's most infamous on-stage antics.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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