as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on
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Recent Examples of masquerade
Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Noun
Despite their masquerade ball meet-cute, the similarities to previous seasons are few and far between.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Today’s online environment intensifies this effect, allowing a small number of loud or coordinated voices to masquerade as true consensus.
—Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerade
Noun
-
Historic preservation is often dismissed as nostalgia, the hobby of people who prefer old facades to modern needs.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
My mosaic facade, titled Human Dignity Shall Be Inviolable, covers the German pavilion at scale.—
Pablo Larios,
Artforum,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Fallon showed framed pictures of him hanging out with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and posing with racecar studs Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
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Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
On the day of Lincoln’s election, the Wide Awakes patrolled polling places under the pretense of protecting democracy, while opponents viewed it as voter intimidation.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities said the gun had been purchased under false pretenses in Indiana.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And its erasure marked the beginning of centuries of political attempts to pretend that slavery never happened.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Online adult platforms are being severely restricted these days as new laws banning materials involving adults pretending to be under 18 are put into place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Earlier this month, the Kremlin announced that this year’s Victory Day parade, held every May 9th in Red Square to commemorate the Soviet victory in the Second World War, which is typically a show of Russian might, would be a modest, small-scale affair.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Related Stories Original stars of the show were in short supply, with several key cast members having passed on — including Paul Reubens, who died three years ago, and Phil Hartman and Lynne Marie Stewart, who died in 1998 and 2025, respectively.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Verb
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According to police records, Torres-García died months before DCF was successfully tricked by her mother into doing a video call with a woman who has said she was asked to impersonate the child.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
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Criminals can use that information to impersonate companies, reset accounts or trick victims into handing over more sensitive details.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
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However, her origin myth, in which she was hatched from an egg laid by her mother, Leda, who had been ravished by Zeus in the guise of a swan, is plainly invention.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
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This pliable guise is partially what makes his persona such a durable meme.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the Moon moves into Sagittarius, your 12th House of Reflection becomes more active, pulling you inward to process before acting.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Charles Ritchie estimated that there are up to 250 members of the main club and 100 to 200 more people involved in sections like German language schools or acting or dancing groups that don’t require full membership.—
Graham Womack
May 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerade. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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