HIDE Synonyms: 261 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hide' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury , conceal , screen , and secrete . While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent. // hide in the closet // a house hidden in the woods

Q: When might 'bury' be a better fit than 'hide'?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely. // buried the treasure

Q: When could 'conceal' be used to replace 'hide'?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge. // concealed the weapon

Q: Where would 'screen' be a reasonable alternative to 'hide'?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery. // a house screened by trees

Q: When would 'secrete' be a good substitute for 'hide'?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others. // secreted the amulet inside his shirt

hide 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈhīd

Definition of hide

as in to conceal

to put into a hiding place the thief had hidden the stolen jewelry under the floorboards

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to obscure

to keep secret or shut off from view he tried to hide his criminal past she hid the cat's litter box behind a screen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lie

to remain out of sight he hid in the closet while his roommate lied to the probation officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hide

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly the grizzled quartermaster threatened to hide any soldier caught stealing provisions

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as in to whip

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible threatened to hide the boys with his cane if he ever found them on his property again

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hide

3 of 3

noun

as in pelt

the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value seal hides are used by Eskimos to make footwear, boats, shelters, bags, and clothing

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as in leather

the hairless natural covering of an animal prepared for use boots made of shiny alligator hide

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How is the word hide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury, conceal, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet

a house hidden in the woods

When might bury be a better fit than hide?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When could conceal be used to replace hide?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would screen be a reasonable alternative to hide?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would secrete be a good substitute for hide?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

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 hide

Verb

As such, using the same sponge on different surfaces promotes the spread of any bacteria hiding in your sponge. — Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 2 Nov. 2026 Gone are the days of readers hiding their romance titles in shame. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Noun

Every last one of my colleagues would happily skin me alive and wear my hide for warmth. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 If the measure passes, expect a highly spirited game of hide-the-loot. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hide

Verb

Jenica Monique Ochoa, 45, and Kenneth Eugene Tompkins, 43, have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and concealing a death, according to Santa Barbara Superior Court Records reviewed by PEOPLE.

— Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2026
Two people have been charged with concealing a man’s death inside his Santa Barbara apartment after the body was found wrapped in a bedroll, stuffed into a metal container and covered with plastic wrap.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of conceal

Verb

Tornado Cash obscures transaction trails by mixing cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Flock fights to obscure 100,000 cameras For Flock protesters, cases like the one in Florida are disturbing, since Flock appears to take great pains to obscure who owns cameras where and how large its camera network is.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscure

Verb

But between these aggressive moves lies a delicate sensibility reflective of Duke Ellington’s early influence on his work.

— Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Officials have built a cordon around the clutch of eggs, which lie between the shoreline and the boardwalk.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of lie

Verb

After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
But the lively crew at the urinals was already licking its lips in anticipation.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

Tracee Ellis Ross, meanwhile, happily obliged when photographers asked her to whip her long ponytail for the cameras.

— Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.

— Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of whip

Noun

The couple was involved in transactions that saw American black bear gallbladders and cougar bones being smuggled into Vietnam, as well as black and white rhinoceros horns, lion teeth and a tiger pelt being illegally imported to Oregon.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Though domestic farms peaked about a decade ago, selling luxury pelts that often ended up in China, foreign farms have sprung up, threatening the business.

— Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of pelt

Noun

The entire Hermès range of products, including ready-to-wear, perfume, scarves, and leather goods, is available here, all elegantly displayed around a central staircase.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
The first collaborations include leather hang tags embossed with miniature scenes of Paris, which can be personalized with customers’ names or initials.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of leather

Verb

The stump itself won’t damage buried water lines, per se, but the roots can be ruthless with pipes.

— Steven John, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026
Use bulb cages or buried layers of hardware cloth to repel rodents, and try adding tree guards and fencing to fend off larger animals.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of bury

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“Hide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hide. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of hide

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