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Definition of masknext
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as in costume
a cover or partial cover for the face used to disguise oneself an elaborate mask that would be suitable for a fancy masquerade ball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mask

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mask differ from other similar words?

The words cloak and disguise are common synonyms of mask. While all three words mean "to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature," mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

When is cloak a more appropriate choice than mask?

Although the words cloak and mask have much in common, cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

When can disguise be used instead of mask?

The words disguise and mask can be used in similar contexts, but disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

How does the verb mask differ from other similar words?

The words cloak and disguise are common synonyms of mask. While all three words mean "to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature," mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

When is cloak a more appropriate choice than mask?

Although the words cloak and mask have much in common, cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

When can disguise be used instead of mask?

The words disguise and mask can be used in similar contexts, but disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

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 mask
Noun
Police said three men wearing masks and all black clothing entered the open business and allegedly used a hammer to smash out several glass panels. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026 To use chlorine bleach safely, wear a mask to prevent the inhalation of mold spores, eye protection, and cleaning gloves. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
However, median household incomes can be misleading and mask important differences within the county. Grigoris Argeros, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 At the same time, however, misinformation demonized everything from vaccine science to the actual impact of masking to public health workers. Penelope Gatlin, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mask
Noun
  • In one scene, he was seen holding a stack of newspapers while standing near a newsstand, surrounded by extras in full period costume.
    Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Ubwdu Lace Ballet Sneakers These sneakers feel like a subtle nod to the balletcore trend without going full costume.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Lahav black ballgown with sheer black veil and beaded appliqués throughout.
    Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Rieger Lorenz hit the crossbar in OT1 … and then senior captain Kent Anderson pierced the veil in OT2.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That’s habit disguised as taste.
    Maryam Ahmed, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
  • On his last day before he’s scheduled to ride off on his motorcycle for a three-month sabbatical that’s only barely disguising his suicidal ideation, Robby spends his final shift lashing out at his co-workers.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The plots of these shows usually center on a murder, which occurs not so much to end a human life as to inconvenience our star, who must postpone a brunch or a media event to conceal an inconvenient corpse.
    Libby Gelman-Waxner, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
  • More than a half-dozen sources close to Zaslav say that the CEO has barely concealed his frustration at being boxed into selling the company by the aggressive overtures of Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison last fall and winter.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The housekeepers greet me with genuine care, the bartenders create cocktails with panache and smiles, and the doormen and women jauntily pose for pictures in their thick Batman-style winter cloaks.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The picture shows Trump wearing a red cloak with his hand over someone’s forehead, appearing to heal them.
    Charlotte Hazard, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With a gaping leg wound and an infection creeping in, Peeta paints himself to camouflage into the stream's bed of rocks, where Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) ultimately finds him.
    Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Don't Overlook the Finish For a novice home painter, going with a flat finish will afford the most forgiveness, camouflaging imperfections rather than drawing the eye to them.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The rookie center fielder didn’t bother to hide his delight, jumping and shouting in celebration.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Carie Hallford was sentenced to 30 years for her role in a scheme that involved hiding nearly 200 decomposing bodies.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Set the scene No view of Mount Fuji is ever guaranteed—clouds can roll in, swaths of mist can form a thick shroud, and rain showers can obscure the steep slopes—but on a clear day, the views from Gora Kadan Fuji are absolutely breathtaking.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Toyo Ito’s 2006 Meiso no Mori Funeral Hall in Gifu, Japan, shelters mourners beneath an undulating thin-concrete canopy like a billowing shroud.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mask. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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