MASKS Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

masks 1 of 2

noun

plural of mask

as in costumes

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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as in veils

something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth his unexpected friendliness is just a mask, for he always has an ulterior motive

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masks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mask

as in disguises

to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity the federal agents masked their surveillance vehicle so that it looked like an ordinary moving van

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hides

to keep secret or shut off from view masked his real motives for wanting to see the house that was for sale

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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 masks

Noun

There were no gloves, no masks in sight –– nothing to separate workers skin from corrosive substances or their lungs from the fumes. —

Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 9 May 2026 When inside, Hattuta said everyone wears masks and keeps a safe distance from each other. —

Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026 His longtime partnership with PJ Harvey might have prepared him for an artist willing to don as many masks as Harding, who sometimes seems to be trying to fit in all of Harvey’s career personae into a single record. —

Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026 Only a small number of those 45 used personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks, googles, or disposable lab coats, the investigators noted. —

ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 Some people are bird-watching, and others are gathering in common areas to read or attend talks, while wearing masks and social distancing. —

ABC News, 8 May 2026 Adaptogens like ashwagandha, reishi, turmeric and holy basil are turning up in serums, masks and moisturizers for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. —

Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026 The first involves passengers wearing masks, and the highest level calls for passengers to isolate. —

Camille Behnke, NBC news, 7 May 2026 In addition, the bill would prevent ICE agents, along with state and local police, from wearing masks, except in limited situations. —

Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026

Verb

The aroma masks the smell of tomatoes, working to deter thrips and other garden pests from finding your crop. —

Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026 While his bravado initially masks fear, Billy ultimately reveals unexpected courage, emerging as an unlikely ally as danger escalates. —

Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 May 2026 That temporarily masks the sensation of fatigue and promotes alertness. —

Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026 The pharmaceutical industry saw its reputation among patient groups inch up last year, but the rise masks fresh concerns about the extent to which some companies are sufficiently focusing on patient needs, according to a new survey. —

Ed Silverman, STAT, 5 May 2026 The odor masks the scent of animals' preferred vegetables and confuses insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms and loopers, spider mites, thrips, and Japanese beetles. —

Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 3 May 2026 Everything is coated in a garlic butter salt that masks the mediocrity of the nuts. —

Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026 The country’s prosperity masks a condition of perpetual labor simply to sustain family and keep pace with one of the world’s most expensive cities. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026 But that headline figure masks a growing divide between two cohorts with almost nothing in common economically. —

Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for masks

Noun

Using four Whitney Houston pop culture moments as a reference point, the team reimagined four new costumes for Ellie to wear during the half-time show.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 9 May 2026
Barranquilla, Colombia — Surrounded by rows of costumes, reggaeton superstar J Balvin fuels up in his dressing room as thousands of people in the coastal Colombian city of Barranquilla wait outside for his raucous five-hour live performance to begin.

— Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 8 May 2026