1
as in facades
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in appearances
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guises
Populism in all its guises surfaces problems but rarely solves them.
—
Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Bad actors can take on all kinds of guises—including pretending to be lawyers.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
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
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Around the ship When embarking, guests are first greeted by the 323-foot-long Galleria Grandiosa, a European-style promenade with brick facades and stone-looking archways and columns.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
-
International artists from Amsterdam, Nepal and Australia paint alongside locals, transforming concrete facades into an open-air gallery visible from the freeway.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The skater, who partners with Anthony Ponomarenko, hopped her flight to Italy without her costumes due to a mix-up with shipping, causing much stress and anxiety for her and McKinnon approximately one week out from the start of the Winter Games.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Should stylists raid the closets of every season’s costumes of Downton Abbey?—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Democrats want to add accountability measures to immigration enforcement and require body cameras and end the use of masks by agents.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The results will show young women who look an awful lot like circus clowns, with faces hidden under layers of masks, gels, serums, and even face tape.—
Jana Pollack,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Johnson had already hinted at the change in strategy in multiple Sunday show appearances, while also expressing confidence all bills would be passed by Tuesday.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Feb. 2026
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Following his assassination, Erika became the new CEO and chair of TPUSA, and has made public appearances at various events.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Toronto might be considered the New York City of Canada, but Bo Bichette is under no pretenses that playing for the Blue Jays is comparable to playing for one of the baseball teams in the Big Apple.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Aurora Municipal Court Judge Brian Whitney issued an order last year pausing more than 300 cases in which attorneys challenged issues under the same pretenses as those before the Supreme Court.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to the brand, Valentine’s Day consistently drives strong engagement across dresses, statement tops and special occasion wear, as customers plan outfits to match a range of celebrations, including date nights, galentine’s gatherings and daytime brunches.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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This one has a relaxed fit that layers easily over dresses and tops.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One pattern rationalizes exploitation and disguises harm as the price of progress.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
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From the costume-picking process to the crazy disguises stars must wear off camera, keep scrolling for the wildest rules contestants on The Masked Singer must follow.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Women adorned their hair in ribbons and men wore Dodgers caps to shield their faces from the sun, the crowd representing an array of identities that make up Los Angeles.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Los Angeles Police Department won't enforce a California directive banning federal immigration agents from wearing masks or hiding their faces while conducting operations in the state.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guises. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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