guises

plural of guise
1
2
as in costumes
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 masks
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 guises Bad actors can take on all kinds of guises—including pretending to be lawyers. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guises
Noun
  • During the festival, SCAD will introduce new backlot facades as well as plans for two new soundstages and 11 new classrooms set to open in 2026.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
  • On Wednesday, the team announced the creation of a new way to evaluate the performance of photoactive materials for semi-transparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs), which could transform how energy is harvested through everyday surfaces like windows, screens, and facades.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kardashian gave fans a glance at the costumes from multiple angles, including photos of the two sitting on a sofa and standing behind a black screen.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Despite an official ban on celebrating Halloween, thousands of Tehranis, including many unveiled women, donned costumes last week.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • White noise machines and humidifiers are frequently available, along with extra blankets, air purifiers, and blackout curtains or sleep masks.
    Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Relatives and friends of inmates, however, regularly tip off journalists to unreported outbreaks, and shortages of soap, gloves and masks.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • First-team appearances came in the National League Cup ties against the under-21 side of Leeds United from the Premier League and second-division Middlesbrough, and dual-registration rules allowed Gjoshe to link up with Bottesford last month.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Magistrates typically conduct initial appearances for defendants, while also performing tasks such as setting release conditions for non-capital offenses and issuing arrest warrants.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said in a May report that women from more than 20 African countries had been recruited under false pretences to make drones for Russia’s war.
    Reuters 16 hr ago, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The audience meets Charles, who is completing yet another stint in jail, this time for false pretenses and evading arrest.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This popular necklace style is the pinnacle of any jewelry collection and a versatile and timeless design that pairs well with anything from the ultra-casual athleisure looks to formal dresses and pantsuits.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Bodysuits, oversize blazers worn as dresses, and sheer fabrics that reveal the lingerie underneath are all common sights.
    Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Peter Sellers was constantly wearing false teeth and fake noses for his disguises.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The rest of the movie is mostly bog-standard heist stuff — scouting the location, assuming secret identities and disguises, and working out the little details that will enable them to run off with the purse at the end of a wild night of gambling.
    Scott Meslow, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Jeff Hanisch / Imagn Images Rain Saturday evening at Camp Randall Stadium blurred the cardinal lights and the faces that had grown familiar with disappointment.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Democrats gathered for a conference hosted by progressives were sneering at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who was not present, for shutting down popular new faces based on disagreements over specific issues.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Guises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guises. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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