reveal

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reveal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reveal are betray, disclose, divulge, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

When is betray a more appropriate choice than reveal?

The words betray and reveal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When can disclose be used instead of reveal?

While in some cases nearly identical to reveal, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When could divulge be used to replace reveal?

While the synonyms divulge and reveal are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can tell take the place of reveal?

The synonyms tell and reveal are sometimes interchangeable, but tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

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 reveal Dillane remarked that this is the beginning of their partnership, which will surely reveal itself over time. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025 On Monday, columnist Karen Attiah revealed that she had been fired by the Washington Post the week before. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025 Elon Musk reveals $1 billion stock purchase of Tesla. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025 Secchi Day data will be revealed, and door prizes will be given away. Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reveal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reveal
Verb
  • Samsung hasn't been particularly forthcoming about the program, which appears to have been publicly disclosed for the first time by a Reddit user, as spotted by SamMobile.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Future product roadmap The companies did not disclose exact launch dates for their first joint products.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
  • That may explain why taking HRT in the years right around menopause—and in turn, avoiding the steep estrogen dropoff of this phase—was shown to lower dementia risk.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While conducting a wellness check, police officers discovered Birchmore's body seated on the floor of her apartment with a luggage strap around her neck tied to a closet doorknob.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Swift canceled three shows in Vienna, Austria, while on the European leg of the Eras Tour in August 2024 after authorities discovered a planned terror attack targeting her concerts.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Eco Wave Power logo is displayed on a floater raised out of the water during a demonstration of Eco Wave Power electricity generation technology using the power of ocean waves in the harbor at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, on August 26, 2025.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • According to a 2022 study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, older adults with a suicide attempt displayed higher levels of suicide intent than younger adults with a suicide attempt.
    Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Barr confirms unreleased Epstein footage Barr confirmed that searches of Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, and possibly his island and New Mexico home, had uncovered cameras and recording systems.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • After years of demanding better pay and protections from individual farmers and buyers, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers — the anti-trafficking organization that uncovered the first examples of abuse in the massive federal case — launched the Fair Food Program in 2010.
    Max Blau, ProPublica, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In the beatdown, Indiana (4-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) demonstrated each of the three principles on that towel in electrifying fashion.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • With their integration of customer engagement with lifecycle thinking, SURI demonstrates how sustainable design can also drive brand loyalty and rapid growth.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • An allied assertion is that if AI generates foul code, tell the AI to get its act together and fix the darned stuff.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Carlson asked the state’s environmental agency about the protocol for discontinuing treatment and was told to keep the state posted.
    Anna Clark, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • By pairing atomic and nuclear clocks side by side, physicists can monitor tiny variations in their time signatures that could betray dark matter’s presence.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
  • And employees notice when executives who preach fairness, integrity and inclusion behave in ways that betray those very ideals.
    Sean WillChene, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reveal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reveal. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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