mask 1 of 2

1
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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2

mask

2 of 2

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

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
Gilded coffin lids from the Pharaonic era, gold funerary masks and what's believed to be fragments of Queen Hatshepsut's ancient temple were among the 25 items accepted in Cairo on Monday. Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 May 2025 Along with retinol, each sheet mask comes packed with ingredients known to soothe and calm. Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 13 May 2025
Verb
In the book, he's fully masked with headgear with more of an industrial look. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 May 2025 This type of repellent also may contain mint or cinnamon oils, but those are mostly about masking the smell for people. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mask
Noun
  • The costume designers even made game-changing advancements on the fly, especially for vital restroom visits.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • One highlight not to be missed is the human-sized Choupette costume sported by Jared Leto at the 2023 Met Gala, where the dress code honored the late couturier.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the rich pigments easily veil dark circles, pigmentation, and blemishes with just a tiny dot of product.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 May 2025
  • The deals were done secretly under a veil of nondisclosure agreements and an LLC called Golden Range, according to property records.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • It can usually be disguised as fairness or reciprocity and may not seem harmful at first.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • In the film, Pike’s Miranda Frost, a Harvard grad and Olympic fencer, disguises herself as a fellow member of MI6, only to later be revealed as a double agent.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • According to dark money hawks, this pass-through funding tactic allows Qatar to conceal state backing as private sector contributions.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 May 2025
  • Johnson claimed that Combs’ team went to extreme lengths to conceal the video, alleging that Florez was offered $100,000 to keep the footage a secret.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • For instance, forget the Vader helmet, that set is the first one to give Titans a cloak, which will be cool by itself.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • The cloak and the other grave goods suggest that the Caral culture developed both advanced fishing technology and artistic techniques.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • However, contrary to the impression given by the headlines, ESG is still in the game, albeit more camouflaged than in the past, quite often, as predicted some years back by Aswath Damodaran, ...
    Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 20 May 2025
  • The benefit of hindsight, however, camouflages the prevailing circumstances when Enciso was loaned out.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • At 19, Johnson married his wife Daphne and initially, was able to hide his drug use from her, the Johnson's clemency petition said.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Enhanced measurement capabilities: Amazon continues investing in Amazon Marketing Cloud with new UI templates and simplified queries, suggesting a commitment to transparency rather than hiding attribution.
    Kiri Masters, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Further down the road, a proper F50 cleat with a TPU shroud enabling everyday wear is expected to release in 2026 while catering to the #BootsOnlySummer TikTok trend.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 13 May 2025
  • As this happens, the gas in this stellar shroud accelerates to speeds as great as 1.6 million miles per hour (700 kilometers per second), which is around 1,000 times as fast as the top speed of a Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighter.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mask. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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