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

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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

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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

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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

Outside, even the owner’s sailing gear gets a party-ready disguise. — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026 Even if his little head plops over when his disguise is broken. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

The alleged assault and confrontation The woman's boyfriend spoke exclusively to CBS News Chicago Investigators on the condition that his face was not shown and his voice was disguised to protect his girlfriend and himself. — Dave Savini, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 Sure, they may be tucked behind an unmarked door or disguised as something else, but these venues are usually so well-established or the clues so obvious that everyone knows what’s up. — Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disguise

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disguise

Noun

Oriahi has a solid handle on all craft aspects, though only the costumes by Yolanda Okereke are particularly distinguishable — her color stories popping in almost every scene.

— Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
His naked illusion dresses — the first worn by actress Mitzi Gaynor for a 1969 television special — was at first shocking but became liquid gold for Mackie, solidifying his legacy as a costume and fashion designer.

— Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of costume

Noun

As critics such as Antonio Candido have remarked, regionalism was at bottom an attempt to render Latin American reality in its dominant rural guise.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Throughout the weekend, Dudamel embraced the worlds of Hollywood, Latin music in many guises and old-fashioned rock.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of guise

Verb

Deep underwater, an octopus can camouflage its skin instantly without sending every micro-decision back to a central brain.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
Never one to camouflage or censor herself, the athlete and activist comes across in the film as charming, spontaneous, admirably self-aware and, above all, unapologetically herself.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of camouflage

Verb

The series begins during a police intervention in which two officers shoot an unarmed teenager and decide to conceal what happened from their superiors.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
That would mean finding a place to conceal our crew of 300 people — not an easy feat in these locations!

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of conceal

Noun

Stores couldn’t keep toilet paper, masks or hand sanitizer on shelves.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Days before the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially opens, protesters from the Fair Games Coalition — wearing Jedi robes and Jar Jar Binks masks and carrying lightsabers — rallied together outside the new museum.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of mask

Noun

Pastel Colonial buildings lined the streets, their facades glowing in the afternoon sun, while the plazas hummed with life.

— Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026
On the façade of the giant concrete structure that was once intended to solve that problem, a sign written in Russian and Spanish remains visible despite the passing years.

— Juan Carlos López, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of facade

Verb

Much of the wildlife in Greenland is adept at hiding, too, given the volume of hunting by the local population who have a long tradition of subsistence hunting and fishing.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Players often downplay symptoms to stay on the field—and many signs of brain trauma, such as headaches, memory problems and fatigue, are easy to hide.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of hide

Verb

What’s at issue is collateral damage, a term that came into use during the Vietnam War to obscure, through abstraction, that masses of civilians were being systematically blown to pieces.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
The poster also obscured the system’s dynamic tracking accuracy.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of disguise

noun

verb

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