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
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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
By the time my story about him was published in the November 2023 issue of Vanity Fair, Aryeh Dodelson, and all of his guises, had disappeared from the face of the earth.
—
Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
In its many guises, idolatry has survived, despite regular and often cataclysmic proof of its dangers, for centuries and many people will consider a much-larger-than-life golden statue of a president to be perfectly splendid.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
But sometimes the squashing of speech can appear in other guises.
—Andrea Valdez, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
This moment will come in many guises.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Both marques returned to the competition this year in new guises.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
Virtuosity, on this program, also came in subtler and more avant-garde guises.
—Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
In its many guises, idolatry has survived, despite regular and often cataclysmic proof of its dangers, for centuries and many people will consider a much-larger-than-life golden statue of a president to be perfectly splendid.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
But sometimes the squashing of speech can appear in other guises.
—Andrea Valdez, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
This moment will come in many guises.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Both marques returned to the competition this year in new guises.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
Virtuosity, on this program, also came in subtler and more avant-garde guises.
—Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guises
Noun
-
In a Castle Rock that's nearly unrecognizable today, Blanchard hopes the facades make viewers pause and honor the history of their town.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Its exterior is most notable for its gently curving facades across the building’s west and south faces.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Entertainers and guests’ costumes alike were incredible.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The show’s costumes were later refined after initial backlash to early images shared by Murphy.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
San Francisco’s Jonathan Carver Moore is offering small pieces by Demond Melancon representing colorful masks that recall classical African examples, created in glass beads and rhinestones on canvas, priced at $8,000.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Second car may be involved with shooting Investigators say surveillance video showed a small dark SUV pull up to 60th and Market before three individuals — believed to be men wearing masks — got out and opened fire directly at the young woman.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For their two red carpet appearances during the festival, Meghan kept things simple, wearing first a chic all-black look followed by a navy belted coat.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Defender Guilherme Biro earned his first assist after collecting one through his first 67 appearances and Facundo Torres grabbed his fourth in his first season with Austin after tallying 16 in three seasons with Orlando City.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Court records said Dintaman, 47, pleaded guilty last October to one count each of conspiracy to commit false pretenses over $100,000, uttering and publishing, forgery and using a computer to commit a crime.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
And Trump, of course, is not—despite his pretenses otherwise—the sole decider here.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soleimani Afshar regularly published images and videos of herself in what appear to be designer clothes, engaging in activities associated with wealth, including riding in a Hummer and posing for glamour shots in short dresses.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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While London adorably twinned with her mom in matching blue floral dresses from her sister, Nicky Hilton’s collection with fashion brand La Coqueta, Phoenix looked smart in a blue button-down shirt and white shorts.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Within the parameters of a game—where non-player characters essentially function as different disguises for, and manifestations of, a single narrative engine—such paranoia might not be unjustified.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The reality series on Fox, which sees celebrity contestants don over-the-top disguises and compete karaoke-style, crowned it's champion Wednesday, April 1.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The red, white, and green of the Hungarian tricolor, projected onto buildings that surround the square, danced across their faces.—
Isaac Stanley-Becker,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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Voters’ familiarity with Harris gives her both a strength and a liability — her name recognition and experience have helped put her at the top of recent national polls, Kousser said, but voters often turn to fresher faces by the time primary elections come around.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guises. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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