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
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
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
-
So, try the spread at Trinquet, a cozy restaurant in the Old Town, the historic center where some facades date back to the medieval period.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Improvements could include fixes to building facades, sidewalks, lighting or murals in Dallas City Council District 7.—
Aria Jones,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There were also opportunities to secure unique stage props, artwork and costumes from previous pageant shows at the Bizarre Bazaar.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In an exclusive first look at the film's costumes, British Vogue spoke to costume designer Jacqueline Durran about her inspiration for some of her boldest looks for Robbie's Cathy.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The star also shared an adorable photo of the family’s matching Halloween costume, sharing an image of her, Luai, and Shammas wearing Batman costumes with masks and capes.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Greene refused to wear protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, racking up nearly $50,000 in fines for appearing maskless on the House floor.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Since the series debuted last November, the show’s cast, including Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, has become a sensation online in their late-night talk show appearances and interviews.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The couple — who are now one of the most watched of the season thanks to their double awards show appearances — were not shy about hiding their romance amidst the stars at the 2026 Golden Globes.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Kingstringer and Ledesma were booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on suspicion of grand theft of an animal, theft by false pretenses and conspiracy.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
-
They were booked into Contra Costa County jail on charges of grand theft of an animal, theft by false pretenses and conspiracy.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Reformation Lluvia Dress As Reformation gears up for its 2026 collection drops, the store is marking down some of last year’s best-selling sweaters, dresses, shoes, and pants.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The couturier created dresses with names such as Tokyo or Utamaro — after the 18th-century Japanese artist — using exceptional fabrics produced by Tatsumura Textile, a historic silk weaver from Kyoto.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One pattern rationalizes exploitation and disguises harm as the price of progress.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
After the play, Sirianni and Brown were seen on the broadcast getting in each other's faces.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Their necks contorted slightly and smiles spread across their faces as the high-definition videos started and their journeys commenced.—
Haven Daley,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guises. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share