veil 1 of 2

noun

ˈvāl How to pronounce veil (audio)
Definition of veilnext
as in shroud
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth under the veil of descending darkness the thieves began their operation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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veil

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to conceal
to keep secret or shut off from view a thicket of bushes veils the private beach from the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shroud
to surround or cover closely morning fog veiled the fields

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 veil
Noun
The post featured several sweet moments, including one of her placing a veil on her daughter’s head. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 The Substance actress shared a glimpse of herself helping her youngest daughter with her wedding veil, along with her daughters Rumer and Scout and granddaughter Louetta. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
Most are soft; some are veiled by haze or sea mist, and others employ blur to picturesque ends. — James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Decked out in her wedding dress and veil and clutching a bridal bouquet, Bethan Thomas rode the Coryton line of the South Wales Metro from Birchgrove to Penarth — about a half-hour journey — to get to her ceremony at Penarth Pier Pavilion on May 9. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for veil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veil
  1. shroud
  2. conceal
  3. wrap
  4. cloak
  5. hide
  6. envelop
  7. blanket
  8. obscure
Noun
  • While music from the Campari Lounge boomed into the evening, approximately 100 demonstrators unwound a shroud bearing the names of 60,000 people who have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war two and a half years ago.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The shroud of silence and fear that enveloped Syria throughout the Assad decades was gone.
    — Lina Sergie Attar, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of shroud
Verb
  • Amazon, Google, Meta and Elon Musk’s xAI all have demanded nondisclosure agreements with local governments, concealing their identity and intent until deals are almost done.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Shih said the suspects wore masks, gloves and hooded clothing to conceal their identities, but detectives were able to identify them as a 19-year-old Tracy man, an 18-year-old San Jose man and a 17-year-old San Jose boy.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • Seats are wrapped in charcoal Mojave PurLuxe Premium upholstery, accented by contrast blue stitching and matching blue seatbelts, distinguishing it instantly from lower-tier Gravity variants.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Being the first woman of Middle Eastern descent to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the supporting actress category is still something Sepideh Moafi is wrapping her head around.
    — Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrap
Noun
  • Accompanying the drones will be a suite of musical scores and dialogue from the films, as well as a live performance by an electric violinist (dressed in a wizard’s cloak) to help amplify the soundtrack.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In the Sacred Relics Room, visitors can view the Prophet Muhammad’s cloak and sword, while the Harem is located the sultan's private quarters.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of cloak
Verb
  • The alert went out warning students to avoid Eddy Hall after the bear was spotted hiding near the academic building.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • So there sat Pecko on Tuesday afternoon atop a bench inside Dakin Park’s first-base dugout, smiling to hide nerves before the biggest day of his baseball life.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • On an 1888 rolling historic Victorian estate just off the bustling South Congress Avenue, Hotel Saint Cecilia offers a lavish collection of 20 bungalows, suites, and studios enveloped in a lush canopy of trees.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That trough disrupted the high pressure bubble near the Great Basin that was responsible for a West Coast heat wave that finally enveloped the Bay Area last week.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of envelop
Noun
  • Of course, there are plenty of ways to incorporate gingham into your home that go beyond the throw blanket or table runner.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026
  • At about 82° above the horizon, many observers will need to lie on a blanket or sunbed to comfortably view the solar corona, which will dominate a dark sky.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of blanket
Verb
  • In the years since Shakur’s murder, what exactly happened in that hail of bullets -- and who pulled the trigger -- was obscured by a lack of physical evidence, feuding cops and the gangland code of silence.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Once there, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf watch as the butterfly approaches the outstretched hand of a woman whose face is obscured, before the ominous presence crushes it in her hands.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of obscure

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veil
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Cite this Entry

“Veil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veil. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on veil

Nglish: Translation of veil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about veil

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