guise

Definition of guisenext
1
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

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

4

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 guise Lee plays Lee, a martial artist recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate the island drug and human trafficking ring operated by Han (Shih Kien) under the guise of a martial arts tournament. David Faris, TheWeek, 20 May 2026 Wilkins moved the two women away from the street under the guise of giving the 28-year-old woman privacy, prosecutors said. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 19 May 2026 The group had been invited to the park under the guise of getting to check out new content additions to Smugglers Run. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026 Closing loopholes that allowed sometimes large apartment buildings in backyards under the guise of accessory dwelling units. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for guise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guise
Noun
  • Hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Meyers have all but abandoned any pretense of comedy in favor of yet another lecture on their ideological preferences.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • That had long been the perception behind the scenes and, once Newcastle’s Champions League exit was sealed at the Camp Nou in March, any public pretence to the contrary evaporated.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The scene was genuinely awful to watch, but the movie—a story of plague, passion, period costumes, and an unwashed man in a tunic skipping town to cure writer’s block—ended up thrilling us; the portrayal of two creative minds working together (and apart) was, oddly, familiar.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • Fans wear ruffled shirts, eye patches and other period costume elements at concerts, which are high-energy and theatrical and adorned with skulls and crossbones, tricorn hats, and anchors.
    Sofia Goldstein, SPIN, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • And in case there were any remaining doubts that masks never had the slightest chance of stopping respiratory viruses, of the studies that met their inclusion criteria, all of them came after 2019.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • Lyra donned her purple-and-pink mask, exclaiming at the colorful angelfish darting between her legs.
    Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Ronaldo is set to make a record-tying sixth World Cup appearance.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 June 2026
  • The Indians have made consecutive regional finals and made a state championship game appearance in the 2021 season, falling 4-3 to Rockwall-Heath.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • The owner, Kenneth Howell has been locked in an acrimonious battle with the city of Boise for years, after Boise staff raised concerns over temporary shoring posts bowing under the building’s weight and a crumbling facade, among other safety issues staff highlighted.
    Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 3 June 2026
  • The record of my thinking is right there in the open, teaching me tolerance for my fumbling, training me not to hide my struggle behind a seamless façade of digital perfection.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The 30-year-old Delaware native wears 18th-century garb while playing a crucial role in helping visitors understand how the state shaped the nation’s founding.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • Everyone is dressed in powdered wigs and the garb of the Revolutionary War era.
    Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • The military used beeswax to waterproof canvas tents and rucksacks, use in sunscreen and camouflage, and wax and coat planes to reduce drag and save money on fuel.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
  • The 28-year-old American actor was out and about in Los Angeles sporting the athletic brand’s classic sneaker style with camouflage cargo shorts and a red top layered over a white long sleeve.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Few faces are as iconically Philadelphian as Gritty.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • Lyrics by Ahrens and dialogue by McNally about the discrimination and brutality that Black Americans and immigrants face can seem straight out of the current moment.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guise. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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