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as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place buried his face in his hands as his wife recounted the embarrassing incident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word bury distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of bury are conceal, hide, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When would conceal be a good substitute for bury?

The meanings of conceal and bury largely overlap; however, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would hide be a reasonable alternative to bury?

The synonyms hide and bury are sometimes interchangeable, but hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might screen be a better fit than bury?

While the synonyms screen and bury are close in meaning, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When is it sensible to use secrete instead of bury?

The words secrete and bury can be used in similar contexts, but secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

Examples 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 bury Wilson told her that, like Napoletano, her true memories were buried. Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024 Over 106,000 people have been injured, and many remain buried under the rubble, officials said. Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024 The mother picked Willie up, still dripping, the boy’s arm doing a funny thing, his face buried in her neck. Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024 Glutamatergic neurons buried deep in the LH emerged as strong and unexpected contenders. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bury 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury
Verb
  • Following the service, Carter will be interred at the family home in a private ceremony, buried beneath a willow tree next to his late wife Rosalynn.
    Stephen Fowler, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
  • The results demonstrate that Moche elites were interred with family members, including some raised far from their parental homes.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • With its sweeping hood concealing a 382 hp, 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline-six engine, and with M light-alloy wheels (19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the back) wrapped in ultra-sticky Michelins, the car is purposeful, athletic, and elegant.
    Nick Czap, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Officers uncovered the remains of four monkeys, identified as bushmeat, concealed among other items.
    Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Yet, deeper reading reveals an honest assessment of the challenges still to be overcome in making change a reality.
    Lauren Coulman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Lawmakers overcame the 60-vote threshold to bypass a filibuster in a 73-27 vote.
    Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Yang then bemoaned how people shoot lasers at him and hide their kids.
    Anne McCarthy, Variety, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The method is largely hidden and allows online activity to be tracked by building up a profile using characteristics from your device—for instance, your phone type, language settings, timezone, can be combined with other information unique to your setup and identify you.
    Matt Burgess, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy is associated with wanton destruction, but a recent discovery throws that assumption into question.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
  • But then, a chance encounter with an Orthodox man on the Antwerp tram throws a wrench into her plans.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • This time, returning to its roots as a horrifying nightmarish sci-fi thriller smothered in jaw-clenching moments.
    Grace Dean, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Friday night at Carbone, a Greenwich Village celeb magnet, the couple of more than a year ordered a feast — including an assortment of antipasti followed by an entrée, rigatoni a la vodka, and a decadent tortellini dish smothered in fresh truffles.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Casino hotels kept guests carefully contained, so local shops, restaurants and businesses bombed — save for pawn shops.
    Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024
  • But the fear in their bellies never left, because Assad forces bombed Idlib, too.
    Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • His community, Qaboun, was an anti-government center and many of its buildings were flattened under Assad’s administration.
    Sally Abou Aljoud, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
  • Scoop cookies: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop dough, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets (do not flatten).
    Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near bury

Cite this Entry

“Bury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bury. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bury

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