disguise 1 of 2

disguise

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disguise differ from other similar words?

The words cloak and mask are common synonyms of disguise. While all three words mean "to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature," disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

When is cloak a more appropriate choice than disguise?

The words cloak and disguise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

When might mask be a better fit than disguise?

The synonyms mask and disguise are sometimes interchangeable, but mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

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 disguise
Noun
Hit Man Based on an outrageous true story, Richard Linklater's 2024 action rom-com sees Glen Powell donning the many disguises of Gary Johnson, a New Orleans Police Department contractor who poses as a hitman to arrest those trying to hire him. Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025 Maybe the designer coat and young appearance were all part of a disguise. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
How hackers disguise fake apps as real ones So how do these fake sites end up in your search results in the first place? Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Because he’s too thoroughly canceled to show his real face on the field, Russ, whose father happens to do special effects makeup for a living, disguises himself with prosthetics, and Chad Powers is born. Judy Berman, Time, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disguise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disguise
Noun
  • Key crew creatives include director of photography Feliksas Abrukauskas, production designer Ramūnas Rastauskas, costume designers Jolanta Rimkutė and Dovilė Cibulskaitė, and make-up artist Jurgita Globytė.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
  • TikTok has also fueled interest in colorful beetle and moth costumes, with creators showing off bold, iridescent patterns and playful, over-the-top designs.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The cases range from political agitators seeking to intimidate immigrants to others using the guise of authority to allegedly kidnap, rob or assault victims.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Also bear in mind that while these benchmark results above outline one optimal implementation of the X2 family, that won’t be the only guise that these chips show up in, by far.
    Wendy Sheehan Donnell, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When under-bed storage is a must, Jordan Winston, cofounder of Oxford Design in Tampa, looks to a bed skirt to camouflage any shoe organizers or containers for seasonal clothes that may be hiding under the bed.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Trillions of dollars are being poured into helping AI camouflage itself with our language.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The creamy, ultra-pigmented formula contains caffeine and hyaluronic acid to depuff the under eyes, conceal dark under eye circles, and blur fine lines and wrinkles.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Some incarcerated men even accused officers of sending people to the SHU to conceal their own abuses.
    Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Shop the Laneige lip mask that editors and celebrities both use, plus the Covergirl lip gloss that plumped up Kelsea Ballerini’s pout during a PEOPLE photoshoot.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Gossip fed the frenzy of the Salem Witch Trials and has been the subtext of one too many fables where mischief masks moral rot.
    Oriel FeldmanHall, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Every groove of San Siro’s concrete facade tells a different story.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Choose from Bat Knit Crazy Cheddar, Death by Garlic Black Garlic Cheddar, Freaky Franken Sage Derby, or Scary Pumpkin Spice Wensleydale for high-quality cheeses that are only spooky in façade.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In addition to being faster and scalable, fiber doesn’t hide metals worth extracting and reselling.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Turns out, Kelce was hiding more than just nerves.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But this becomes nearly impossible when a dense medium obscures the object.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The other names on the list were obscured, leading to widespread fan speculation about his future opponents.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disguise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disguise. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on disguise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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