smoke screen

Definition of smoke screennext

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 smoke screen Whether there is any fire behind this week’s apparent smoke screen of a meeting, or if Francis is even thinking about resigning is unknown to perhaps but a few of his closest allies, and probably not even them. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 Optional features include smoke screens, thermal night-vision and electromagnetic pulse protection. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 13 Feb. 2025 Any dignified motivations that had once held sway—making art for art’s sake, acting to minimize suffering—became smoke screens to distract others from my selfishness. Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 Moscow’s troops have also deployed old-age techniques like smoke screens, anti-drone cages, and more to keep their tanks safe. Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for smoke screen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoke screen
Noun
  • On the economic data front, investors awaiting weekly jobless claims on Thursday and looking ahead to February’s nonfarm payrolls report on Friday.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Some headway has been made on that front, but historically, there has been a bit of friction.
    Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Setting decoys, crafting a blind and getting ready to hunt together, Crowson and I were in our element.
    Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Why don’t small-town police ever close their interrogation-room blinds?
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • As part of the swindle, McCabe promised to transfer the proceeds from the sale of the yacht to the victim, who according to court filings was a widower who had no family support.
    Sean Emery, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
  • While Yusuf was found guilty of six counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle (over $35,000) in August by a jury, the decision was overturned by Judge Sarah West in November, according to KARE.
    Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • From online hoaxes about wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii to Russian and extremist propaganda during Hurricane Helene, information manipulation is warping responses to climate change and extreme weather.
    Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Adams can no longer practice medicine in Putnam County or anywhere in Tennessee, according to state records made public in January that reveal his elaborate hoax.
    Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Peters has not expressed remorse for her actions, instead defending them as necessary to investigate possible fraud.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Last month, in a separate case, Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal handed Lai a rare legal victory by overturning his conviction for fraud ⁠and ​quashing a 69-month sentence.
    Reuters 8 hr ago, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Instead, @AnthropicAI and its CEO @DarioAmodei, have chosen duplicity.
    Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Premiering in 2004, Project Runway was instrumental in ushering in a new style of reality competition based on skill rather than duplicity and cynicism.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That said, there are plenty of reasons — none involving any kind of partisan chicanery — that explain why California elections seems to drag on and vote totals shift as ballots are steadily counted.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • That said, there are plenty of reasons — none involving any kind of partisan chicanery — that explain why California elections seems to drag on and vote totals shift as ballots are steadily counted.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The videos were an end run around the news media and a break from presidential tradition, as CNN’s chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins noted on air.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
  • But if so, the group is still adding shows without making any official declarations about an end run just yet.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Smoke screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoke%20screen. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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