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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of masquerade
Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Noun
Despite their masquerade ball meet-cute, the similarities to previous seasons are few and far between.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerade
Noun
-
Covered in silvery industrial panels, with a door that closes flush against the façade, the four-story building stands out for its museumlike minimalism.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Its Edwardian façade and lantern-like corner portico have been carefully restored, a pleasing contrast to the immersive, maximalist interiors that 25hours pulls off so well.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Officials say, at this time, the incident does not pose a danger to the public.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The seven defendants are charged with culpable homicide, a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter that alleges that the accused were aware that their reckless conduct posed a risk and failed to prevent it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
K-pop is unusual in that there’s none of the pretense that often accompanies traditional pop music.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Given the dollar amounts of current NIL and revenue sharing agreements, pretending college athletes are not employees is ludicrous.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
-
One day, Jaime is detained by a security guard at a shopping mall, and Matías must ask a stranger to pretend to be their father in order to help free him.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Swift's first time at the awards show in three years was a celebratory one.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Hungarians living near the southern frontier, where Orbán made a show of building a border fence during the refugee crisis, are travelling to Croatia to buy cheap groceries.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2023, Reuters reported that two of its reporters in China were being impersonated via Instagram and Telegram accounts that were attempting to get information on activists protesting the country’s COVID-19 policies.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This follows a wave of scam emails reported in late February, where fraudsters were impersonating the SSA.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Then, in the late nineteenth century, the mandolin experienced a second flowering, albeit in a different guise.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Under some guise of urgency—an unpaid fine or other transgression—the victim would be directed to download an app that closely mimics the institution’s real one.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The three-day event draws more than 100,000 fans every year for the festival, which headlines largely country music acts while raising money for marine conservation.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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In the years since the show went off the air, Per Sullivan stopped acting and chose a private life outside the public eye.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerade. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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