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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
That is exactly why they should not be allowed to operate under this veil of obscurity; secret courts should never be a reality in our country. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026 Carey wore a Vera Wang dress, which featured a 10-foot veil and 27-foot train, during her $500,000 wedding. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
Videos on Iranian social media showed many women at the cafes flouting mandatory veiling laws, and crowds mixing freely. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 Okay, good veiled Alexa/Siri reference. — Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 June 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
  • With its magnetic shroud shoelace cover and dressy patent leather toe, the Air Jordan 16 was conceptualized in 2001 during an unusual period of Jordan’s legacy.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Scaffolding was being taken down Tuesday after workers over Labor Day weekend removed a shroud that had obscured the work.
    — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shroud
Verb
  • The listening device was plugged into a USB port on the back of a television, concealed by a small piece of toilet paper, according to the FBI.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The device, which had a detachable camera sensor, digital microphone, and microSD storage, was concealed in toilet paper, according to the complaint.
    — Dan Mangan,Eamon Javers,Paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • Americana musician Brandi Carlile just wrapped a three-night stint at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and fans who attended the Saturday show got a special surprise when she was joined by ‘90s rock legend Alanis Morissette.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Season 2 wrapped in April and was won by RJ Reynolds, a Project Manager from Texas.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrap
Noun
  • Alleged violations included wearing colorful scarves or makeup, leaving hair visible or not wearing a chador, an all-enveloping cloak-like garment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This, Rostov’s main thoroughfare, wasn’t illuminated by the familiar bright glare of its many street lamps, or by light from its windows, now blacked out, but emerged from the darkness all the more gently in a milky cloak of moonlight.
    — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of cloak
Verb
  • Ambarchi is the director who makes occasional cameos, hiding with his guitar in the shadows until stepping forward only when necessary.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • The richness of the palette, according to Kehoe, is perfect for creating a space that will envelop all who enter.
    — Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Deadly weekend Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s airport underscored the risk of war enveloping still more of the Middle East.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of envelop
Noun
  • Add a bookmark, reading journal, cozy blanket, or handwritten list of your own favorite women authors.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Those with general admission tickets are also encouraged to bring portable chairs or blankets, as seating is not provided with those tickets.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of blanket
Verb
  • Writers would deliberately distort certain letters to convey their identities to close confidantes and obscure them from others.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, the whole point of lethal injection is to obscure the violence of the state taking a human life.
    — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscure

Browse Nearby Words

vehicles
veil
veiled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Veil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veil. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on veil

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about veil

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zenith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All