disguise 1 of 2

disguise

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disguise differ from other similar words?

The words cloak and mask are common synonyms of disguise. While all three words mean "to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature," disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

When is cloak a more appropriate choice than disguise?

The words cloak and disguise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

When might mask be a better fit than disguise?

The synonyms mask and disguise are sometimes interchangeable, but mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

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 disguise
Noun
Maybe the designer coat and young appearance were all part of a disguise. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025 Prosecutors say that the man used his disguise to gain entry to Green City Lofts on 41st Street and Bayview Place apartments on Shellmound Street. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Norton has a proprietary protocol called Mimic that aims to bypass VPN-blocking technologies by disguising traffic as standard HTTPS. PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025 According to the post, explosives in liquid form can be disguised as everyday products. Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disguise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disguise
Noun
  • The costumes were the perfect nondescript counterpoint to Lamar’s trend-launching look.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There will be trick-or-treating for kids through downtown shops and Halloween costume parties for adults throughout island establishments in the evening.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • All this reintroduces the problem of arbitrary outcomes, in a different guise.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Unfortunately a recent deep fake has come in the guise of a friend.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Defense camouflaging more blemishes than Revlon.
    Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
  • All these possibilities can camouflage fences in the background.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Responding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Senate Bill 627 would prohibit law enforcement on the local, state and federal level from wearing masks that conceal their identity in the course of duty.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There are three other food and beverage venues, including El Secreto, a hidden salon and bar, quietly concealed behind an unmarked door on the hotel’s second floor, and La Cava, the adjacent emerald-toned jewel that is Faena’s wine cellar, an intimate setting for unforgettable private gatherings.
    Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And when the hydration from masks, oils, and butters isn’t cutting it, there’s steaming, something curly hair girls already know very well, says Kiana Rae Brown, a curly hair specialist and owner of West Coast Curls Salon in Los Angeles.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Hortman and her husband, Mark, were allegedly assassinated by Vance Boelter, who dressed as a police officer with a realistic silicone mask, at their home in the early hours of June 14.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When Simone decides to grasp Kiki’s life for herself by starting an affair with Peter, though, Michaela’s beatific facade slips.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Today, its Portland stone façade and arched windows still speak to that Victorian grandeur, but inside the story has shifted.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And now there’s another reason users may click to hide — dynamic pricing.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • And best of all, the mirror distracts guests from registering that there’s a coat hanger hiding ‘round back.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The bill would prohibit federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing masks that obscure their identity during public-facing operations, with exemptions for medical and undercover purposes.
    Amelia Wu, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Justin shares Jack with wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber, and while the couple often shares photos of their son, his face is often obscured.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disguise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disguise. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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