1
2
as in veils
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth
his unexpected friendliness is just a mask, for he always has an ulterior motive
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in disguises
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity
the federal agents masked their surveillance vehicle so that it looked like an ordinary moving van
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hides
to keep secret or shut off from view
masked his real motives for wanting to see the house that was for sale
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 masks
Tory Johnson, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
These masks will provide a fun pop of color in their baskets for Easter morning, along with hydrated skin upon application.
—Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 14 Mar. 2026
Masking options include live masks based on frequency band range, hue, or luminosity.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
The masks fall away from the Saja Boys, and the song just gets darker and darker.
—Charlie Harding, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Democrats want reforms to DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics, such as barring agents from wearing masks, mandating body cameras, and requiring federal agents to obtain warrants to search homes.
—Bailey Allen, Cape Cod Times, 13 Mar. 2026
More furniture, lamps, art, masks, and sculptures came from the warehouses to fill the new wing.
—Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
Celebrities flaunt their singing abilities while disguised in increasingly elaborate costumes and masks.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
People wear masks to hide their selfishness, deceiving others in order to satisfy their own desires.
—Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2026
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
The headline performance masks some major swings beneath the surface.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Still, the resilience masks a more complicated picture, economists said, given the cooling labor market and a record trade deficit in goods in December.
—semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Tools like Tails create a more private operating system that runs from a USB and routes traffic through Tor Browser, which masks your IP address — good for anonymous publishing.
—Jennifer Lutz, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Giddey purchased the home using an opaque land trust that masks his ownership.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
But that strength masks ongoing weakness among consumers and the property sector.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
While meant to express closeness, this phrase often masks blurred boundaries.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The night sky may seem calm, even serene, but that masks events of a catastrophic and nearly unimaginable scale.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
Shampoos, conditioners and masks designed to enhance volume and strengthen strands.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
These masks will provide a fun pop of color in their baskets for Easter morning, along with hydrated skin upon application.
—Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 14 Mar. 2026
Masking options include live masks based on frequency band range, hue, or luminosity.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
The masks fall away from the Saja Boys, and the song just gets darker and darker.
—Charlie Harding, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Democrats want reforms to DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics, such as barring agents from wearing masks, mandating body cameras, and requiring federal agents to obtain warrants to search homes.
—Bailey Allen, Cape Cod Times, 13 Mar. 2026
More furniture, lamps, art, masks, and sculptures came from the warehouses to fill the new wing.
—Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
Celebrities flaunt their singing abilities while disguised in increasingly elaborate costumes and masks.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
People wear masks to hide their selfishness, deceiving others in order to satisfy their own desires.
—Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
The smell masks the insects’ chemical signals, confusing the aphids and affecting their ability to find food.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
The headline performance masks some major swings beneath the surface.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Still, the resilience masks a more complicated picture, economists said, given the cooling labor market and a record trade deficit in goods in December.
—semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Tools like Tails create a more private operating system that runs from a USB and routes traffic through Tor Browser, which masks your IP address — good for anonymous publishing.
—Jennifer Lutz, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Giddey purchased the home using an opaque land trust that masks his ownership.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
But that strength masks ongoing weakness among consumers and the property sector.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
While meant to express closeness, this phrase often masks blurred boundaries.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The night sky may seem calm, even serene, but that masks events of a catastrophic and nearly unimaginable scale.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masks
Noun
-
As a little girl, Alexa Ray Joel would slip into costumes handed over by supermodel mom Christie Brinkley, then prance around performing Disney musicals like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.—
Leena Tailor,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Celebrities flaunt their singing abilities while disguised in increasingly elaborate costumes and masks.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Sisters wear black floor-length habits and veils that smell of lilacs and ammonia cleaner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Newspaper archives show couples wearing their finest attire, brides wearing veils cascading down their full-length gowns and others wearing red or pink in a nod to Valentine’s Day.—
Melissa Renteria,
San Antonio Express-News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Crafted into undone bends, the style disguises flyaways and limp ends.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Shortly after arriving at the home just after midnight, Nelson downloaded a phone app that disguises the phone number of incoming calls.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even that comparison hides a lot of pain headed for retirees under current law, Smetters said.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
This information is conveyed by a hilariously avant-garde Poulter, playing the store’s manager, who dyes his hair to match each monochromatic scheme and hides his nefariousness behind a company policy that requires techno music to be played at maximum volume at all times.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the years after the monarchy was overthrown, the government required women to wear dark, long, baggy cloaks with socks and sensible shoes.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The brand, first launched in 2018, has featured a limited edition Minecraft Dungeons collaboration (with Microsoft and Mojang) for cloaks and hoodies, and Five Nights at Freddy’s wearable blankets and winter jackets.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Irving used a durable Dekton countertop and Brown Jordan cabinetry that conceals appliances and stands up to the elements, as well as flexible seating arrangements and discreet storage to keep pillows and furniture covers tucked safely away.—
Megan Johnson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
-
But the late-Baroque facade of the building conceals a special, darker history, one that reflects persistent political and legal problems for the bank thousands of miles away, in the US.—
Hugo Miller,
Bloomberg,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many of its songs crystallize around samples of choirs singing, their soft syllables dissolving beneath heavy shrouds of reverb.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The glacier – now wrapped in vast white shrouds in a desperate attempt to slow its melting – emerges as both subject and body, altar and loss.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Often, the design’s playfulness obscures the protagonist’s malaise.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The article unintentionally rewrites the sequence of events and obscures who actually pushed this conversation forward.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masks. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
