as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on
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Recent Examples of masquerade
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
The annual Fanti Carnival saw elaborate processions with participants dressed in vibrant costumes, musical and masquerade performances, and dancing stilt walkers.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 11 Feb. 2026
Today’s online environment intensifies this effect, allowing a small number of loud or coordinated voices to masquerade as true consensus.
—Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Noun
The production, co-directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, jettisons the animal masquerade for a different kind of drag extravaganza.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
The annual Fanti Carnival saw elaborate processions with participants dressed in vibrant costumes, musical and masquerade performances, and dancing stilt walkers.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
On the flip side, Lang warns that there are some serious conditions that can masquerade as menopause symptoms.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 11 Feb. 2026
Today’s online environment intensifies this effect, allowing a small number of loud or coordinated voices to masquerade as true consensus.
—Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerade
Noun
-
The owner, Kenneth Howell has been locked in an acrimonious battle with the city of Boise for years, after Boise staff raised concerns over temporary shoring posts bowing under the building’s weight and a crumbling facade, among other safety issues staff highlighted.—
Darin Oswald,
Idaho Statesman,
3 June 2026
-
The record of my thinking is right there in the open, teaching me tolerance for my fumbling, training me not to hide my struggle behind a seamless façade of digital perfection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The project posed several issues for an artist who had always emphasized clarity and simplicity in his solitary picture-taking.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Meyers have all but abandoned any pretense of comedy in favor of yet another lecture on their ideological preferences.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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That had long been the perception behind the scenes and, once Newcastle’s Champions League exit was sealed at the Camp Nou in March, any public pretence to the contrary evaporated.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
To pretend that the Fed somehow escapes this absolute is not only false, but also a non sequitur.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Two, people might pretend to be different characters or scenarios, which can add excitement.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Since then, Catwoman has appeared in various movies and on TV shows, including Matt Reeves' The Batman in 2022, where Zoë Kravitz took on the part.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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The relationship between the two of them was always at the heart of the of the show.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
29 May 2026
Verb
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So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
-
He was booked for burglary, elder abuse, embezzlement and impersonating a contractor.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Noun
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And that came in the guise of a serious illness that threatens — but then ends up solidifying — the unbreakable bond between Deborah (Jean Smart) and her protégé, Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), something that has been built up over the course of five seasons.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
29 May 2026
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Dwayne Johnson is a confident guy and has donned any number of ridiculous guises during his Saturday Night Live hosting gigs over the years.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Even a middle school student would perceive a stark difference between someone who voices a bogus theory and someone who acts on it.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Zoe remembered more about how her sisters acted in losses than in victories.—
Ethan Hanson,
Daily News,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerade. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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