1
as in veil
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth
there has long been a curtain of secrecy surrounding that group
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in drapes
curtains plural
pieces of cloth hung to darken, decorate, or divide a room
the kittens keep climbing the curtains
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sleep
curtains plural
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities
it'll be curtains for us if we're caught
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hide
to keep secret or shut off from view
she dropped her head in shame and curtained her face with her hair
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 curtain
Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
In the space behind the water feature, a CRT TV plays a video in close proximity to a set of loose-hanging curtains as pink Financial Times pages litter the ground.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
Are shower curtains a design staple of the past?
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curtain
Noun
Chopped with face-framing curtain bangs and curled into small (almost Shirley Temple-sized) ringlets, the singer’s hair is clearly a reference to her look from the song’s energetic music video.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
In the space behind the water feature, a CRT TV plays a video in close proximity to a set of loose-hanging curtains as pink Financial Times pages litter the ground.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
Mock suggests cleaning shower curtains monthly by placing them in the washer with a large towel and a small dose of laundry detergent.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
Are shower curtains a design staple of the past?
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curtain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtain
Noun
-
The veil was shredded, the illusion was shattered.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Somehow, nine seasons of strangers finding love behind the veil of the pods have already passed and season 10 of Love Is Blind is upon us!—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The couple say the constant anxiety and weeks indoors have taken a toll, affecting their sleep and their health.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These shows are often sponsored by sleep, weight loss, hydration and supplement companies.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As my colleague Adam Serwer has written, many Minnesotans are engaging in protests and efforts to deliver food and supplies to families in hiding.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Asked whether the 2-0 derby defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on January 17 might have gone a different way had Diogo Dalot been red-carded in the 11th minute for a knee-high foul on Jeremy Doku, Guardiola was insistent that his Manchester City team could not hide behind the decision.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One man is covered with a bloody white shroud inside a body bag.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The opposition needs to offer a credible safe exit for these regime insiders, convincing them that the Islamic Republic is no longer their shield, but their shroud.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Here's what to know about these signs of impending doom, including more details about the Doomsday Clock.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Giving off Hawking radiation, a primordial black hole that was originally the size of an atomic nucleus would meet its doom in the modern universe, slowly dwindling before ending in a sudden, extreme burst of particles.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Iranian economy is a grand hall of mirrors, concealing criminal theft on an epic scale.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Economic growth fueled by foreign borrowing created an illusion of stability that concealed deepening structural decay.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Women in black cloaks with their faces and hands covered in line with their religious faith waited in the rain for limited amounts of food to be dispersed.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The campaign included guerrilla marketing tactics throughout Seoul, with individuals in black cloaks branded with the album logo appearing in districts like Gangnam, Seongsu, and Hongdae.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anthony Paradiso, Meassick’s coach at Toho, had a similar QB in Tucker Israel, the state’s career all-time career passing leader with 15,034 yards at Lake Nona.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Their third goal featured some of the most dynamic passing in recent memory.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curtain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtain. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
