Synonyms of guise

guise

noun

ˈgīz 

1

as in pretense

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive

he allowed himself to dine at fine restaurants all over the world under the guise of research for his book on international cuisine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pretense
• facade
• show
• act
• pose
• disguise
• masquerade
• semblance
• airs
• charade
• front
• cloak
• pretext
• performance
• appearance
• playacting
• persona
• portrayal
• impersonation
• put-on
• image
• deception
• camouflage
• excuse
• duplicity
• affectation
• betrayal
• gloss
• deceit
• fraud
• treason
• dissimulation
• treachery
• perfidy
• guile
• color
• falseness
• fakery
• dissembling
• double cross
• infidelity
• faithlessness
• falsity
• double-dealing
• unfaithfulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• directness
• candor
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• bluntness
• outspokenness
• candidness
• naïveté
• genuineness
• artlessness
• plainspokenness
• openheartedness

2

as in costume

clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation

she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

• costume
• garb
• clothes
• attire
• dress
• outfit
• getup
• togs
• apparel
• style
• mode
• drag
• raiment
• duds
• habiliment(s)
• fashion
• vestments
• array
• caparison

3

as in mask

clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else

he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites

Synonyms & Similar Words

• costume
• mask
• camouflage
• disguise
• veil
• paint
• visor
• dress
• coloring
• rig
• vizard
• costumery
• cosmetic
• domino
• makeup
• outfit
• getup

4

as in appearance

outward and often deceptive indication

hazing rituals may have the guise of harmless fun, but often the reality is serious physical abuse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appearance
• face
• impression
• effect
• semblance
• name
• seeming
• show
• first blush
• pretense
• outward
• implication
• cloak
• likeness
• resemblance
• air
• suggestion
• display
• surface
• imitation
• hint
• representation
• fiction
• mask
• demonstration
• facade
• image
• disguise
• simulation
• pose
• affectation
• masquerade
• insinuation
• front
• exterior
• veneer
• shape
• shell
• make-believe
• gloss
• imposture
• patina
• Potemkin village

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of guise

The slow-burn thriller is partially based on a 17th century ballad in which the heroic outlaw’s cousin, a malevolent prioress, bleeds the older, ailing Robin to death under the guise of the ancient medical treatment known as bloodletting. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026

In a post on X, Bugti said that those who target state officials under the guise of peaceful protest would not escape accountability. — ABC News, 22 June 2026

Trump has shattered diplomatic norms with explicit endorsements, fueling accusations from Mexico and Colombia that Washington is attempting to tilt foreign elections under the guise of fighting drugs. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

The business owners argue that they’ve been denied leases in Westport for racially discriminatory reasons under the guise of improving public safety. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026