1
a
: having or wearing a veil or a concealing cover
a veiled hat
b
: characterized by a softening tonal distortion
2
: obscured as if by a veil : disguised
veiled threats

Examples of veiled in a Sentence

She looked at him with barely veiled contempt. The report makes veiled references to his criminal activities.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On Monday, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, appeared to make a veiled outreach for the U.S. to step in and negotiate an end to hostilities between Israel and Iran. Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025 No sign of conflict letting up Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, appeared to make a veiled outreach Monday for the U.S. to step in and negotiate an end to hostilities between Israel and Iran. Ami Bentov, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025 Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlin numbers among the more public figures who have denounced both the ruling and those who championed it, a veiled but direct reference to Rowling, in an Instagram Story that has since expired and a follow-up post. Jeanie Pyun, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025 The author also varies the texture of the book by inserting poems, quotations, dramatic dialogue, a veiled account of her unhappy days at boarding school, and a lengthy digression on the German mystic Friederike Hauffe, who claimed to be clairvoyant and to communicate with spirits. James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for veiled

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of veiled was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Veiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veiled. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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