reveal

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reveal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reveal are betray, disclose, divulge, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

When is betray a more appropriate choice than reveal?

The words betray and reveal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When can disclose be used instead of reveal?

While in some cases nearly identical to reveal, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When could divulge be used to replace reveal?

While the synonyms divulge and reveal are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can tell take the place of reveal?

The synonyms tell and reveal are sometimes interchangeable, but tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

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 reveal But further conversation revealed a situation that was almost certainly complicating the search. Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025 In a social media post on Monday, Holland revealed the news and expressed his frustration with the timing of the decision. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 In February, the company revealed a tie-up with Comme des Garçon Homme and its creative director Junya Watanabe. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025 Rotating strike activity may be isolated to specific locations, affecting those areas for a specified period, the Crown corporation said, without revealing any details. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reveal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reveal
Verb
  • Laurent Freixe was dismissed for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached Nestlé’s code of business conduct.
    Ana Nicolaci da Costa, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mooresville spent $300,000 on drones for its police department this year, plus $20,250 in sales tax, records show.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Released hostages later reported seeing him alive, and in May 2025 Hamas released a video showing him alongside fellow hostage Elkana Buchbut.
    Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hollywood legend Cary Grant goes full-on slapstick as a man who discovers his sweet elderly aunts are actually serial killers.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Researchers at Radware discovered the zero-click vulnerability in June 2025.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This video will not be displayed at Westchester County Airport.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Airports pick a side TSA owns and operates some of the video monitors at airports which have been added to try to expedite the screening process by displaying reminders and sometimes include DHS messages.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The 94-minute film weaves together interviews with the investigators who helped uncover BTK’s identity with Rawson’s personal reflections on her relationship with her father, both before and since his arrest and conviction.
    Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back … and determined to uncover the truth.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Like something out of an early Transformers movie, researchers at Caltech have just demonstrated how a humanoid and a drone can team up to accomplish multiple forms of movement.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The department intends to make sure participants have a safe space to demonstrate and intends stop any unlawful activity.
    Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Debris that may be key evidence could be as small as a fingernail, experts told CNN, and might have been thrown miles away.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Those last six words are telling.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sometimes, Wyeth’s work was described as bourgeois, betraying a desire for black ease and affluence, trading in a corrosive and politically dubious desire to see black people rich or at the very least in luxurious settings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, the character is last seen getting blasted backwards after being shot with a lightning gun by Tank (Marcus Chong) for betraying and killing almost all of their crew.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reveal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reveal. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reveal

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