as in shows
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 masquerades
Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Urgency masquerades as importance, and decisions get made from activation rather than alignment.
—Susan Parsons, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Bias masquerades as opinion, with no guidance and no intent to help.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Burnout masquerades as ambition.
—Kelly Ehlers, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
And humiliation masquerades as justice.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The gala will conclude with rousing Cameroon and Nigerian masquerades by the Odenigbo Group.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
This multitasking piece masquerades as a comfortable bench, but is also the ultimate decluttering companion in a busy room.
—Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Urgency masquerades as importance, and decisions get made from activation rather than alignment.
—Susan Parsons, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Bias masquerades as opinion, with no guidance and no intent to help.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Burnout masquerades as ambition.
—Kelly Ehlers, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
And humiliation masquerades as justice.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The gala will conclude with rousing Cameroon and Nigerian masquerades by the Odenigbo Group.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerades
Noun
-
Indian benchmark indices, in sharp contrast, are the only ones in the red, falling over 10%, data from LSEG shows.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
With its focus on discovering distinctive talent, MFW includes runway shows, as well as market and showroom, where collections can be directly evaluated by buyers – formats that can support sales activity.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
But lurking in the grasslands and forest clearings of at least two southeastern counties is a scaly intruder that state wildlife officials say poses a serious threat to native animals and crops alike.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, wants to press ahead with Israel’s offensive until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.—
Bassem Mroue,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Berenger, a character who appears in different guises in several of his plays, is Ionesco’s version of Everyman.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
But only male pilots can apply—so Wooram goes full Twelfth Night and impersonates her twin brother Boram, with his blessing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Like that video where Bryan Cranston impersonates Art Garfunkel at Central Park, and his bouffant gets bigger every time the camera cuts back.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Houzz notes that 69 percent of homeowners are opting for different trim and wall colors, indicating a strong preference for varied facades.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
3 June 2026
-
This can include easier jobs, like fresh paint jobs on facades and park clean-ups overnight, or more intense projects like refreshing and reimagining attractions.—
Megan duBois,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In each new place, Charlie pretends to be Layla, hoping to ensnare an unsuspecting Stanley into his web of deceit.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
Elsa argues with her mother, Isabel doesn’t like to be questioned and pretends everything’s all right, while Amalia hangs with dodgy characters and makes claims that seem real only to her.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 55-year-old Ziad Khalel, of Clinton Township, was arraigned on Tuesday on one count of false pretenses - $1,000 ore more but less than $20,000 and as a habitual offender - second offense.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
-
According to Placer Superior Court filings, one false pretenses count and the personal identifying information charge stemmed from a June 21, 2025, incident.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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At sunset its Amina Muaddi slingbacks, when honeymooners head to the bar to make the most of the martini shots while a could-be-a-model DJ plays cool and breezy beats in a midriff-bearing top.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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And the company’s focus on wellness plays well in a state that was at the center of the health food movement in the 1960s and 1970s.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masquerades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerades. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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