DISGUISE Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

disguise 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disguise

as in costume

clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else Mardi Gras revelers dressed in a colorful array of outlandish disguises

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in guise

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive somehow, he managed to put on a disguise of happiness as he watched his secret crush marry someone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disguise

2 of 2

verb

də-ˈskīz

as in to camouflage

to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity the spies disguised themselves as harmless tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to conceal

to keep secret or shut off from view that investigative reporter usually does a good job of disguising her true motives for interviewing a person

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Despite disguises, they were recognized by a man outside, who raised the alarm. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026 Among them, Mimi Sheraton, who donned wigs and other disguises to go unrecognized when reviewing. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

Seattle accomplishes this by masterfully disguising defensive assignments before the snap, which can force Mahomes to diagnose where to go with the football only after dropping back. — Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 This involved training for seven months to walk a wire 80 feet in the air while disguised as Corey — complete with extensive prosthetics. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disguise

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disguise

Noun

Pro Silver Star is also seeking a preliminary injunction on the use of the costumes.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026
The family-friendly festivities include trick-or-treating bags for the first 250 children younger than 12 in the vendor and tattoo rooms on Saturday, plus a kids’ costume contest where every participating child wins and specialty drinks.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of costume

Noun

The guise of a youthful flush In those early episodes, Cathy’s makeup had to mirror her hair’s equally nonthreatening appearance, so a fresh, skin-first look was important.

— Katie Gunderman, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
Under his guise of Guy With a Movie Camera, he’s been hired by studios and streamers to help promote their projects with his particular brand of BTS content.

— Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of guise

Verb

Definitely go for a dip, preferably at night under the impossibly starry sky, in one of the onsen pools camouflaged into the Japanese rock garden.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
This one, in particular, has a body-skimming fit that’s sleek enough to tuck into jeans or skirts, plus a nice ribbed design that camouflages bra lines.

— Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of camouflage

Verb

Clements is charged with two counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle, hit and run resulting in serious injury or death, stalking, and concealing the death of another.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Carvajal also rejected the suggestion that the group activated disappearing messages to conceal threats.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of conceal

Noun

City officials urged residents and visitors to stay indoors and to wear a mask outside.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Although the hockey mask never appears, Kane lovingly re-creates exact scenes from the original movie to offer flashes of eye candy to Jason fanatics.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of mask

Noun

These boutiques offer distinct expressions of each house, while their facades contribute to a streetscape with an individual character.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Framed by concrete, the glass façade reflects its surroundings as well as the sky.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of facade

Verb

If a suspicious sample directly reduces a model’s reward, the model could learn to hide its behavior instead of correcting it.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
The Kettle Moraine State Forest is right at our edge, and there are nooks and crannies where something could hide.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of hide

Verb

But take a walk inside and the ground is laden with faint slabs of rock, gravestones from a centuries-old Indigenous family cemetery that had been obscured by the passage of time and neglect.

— Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
However, any potential signal is expected to be faint and can be obscured by cosmic variance, the statistical uncertainty that arises when observations cover only a finite portion of the universe.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscure

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disgruntling

disguise

disguised

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“Disguise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disguise. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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noun

verb

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