bury

verb

ˈber-ē How to pronounce bury (audio)
Definition of burynext
1
as in to inter
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea he died on Tuesday and was buried on Friday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in to overcome
to defeat by a large margin if we don't work harder, the other softball team will bury us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 bury With under a minute left in Game 3 and down by two points, Durant buried a triple over James to give Golden State a lead and a 3-0 series lead. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 Eight days after Venezuela’s earthquakes, black smoke, mass graves and overwhelmed rescuers define La Guaira, even as the dramatic rescue of a man buried nearly a week offers fleeting hope. — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 In addition, the group plans to bury a time capsule on July 4 in Philadelphia to be opened on America's 500th birthday in 2276. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 July 2026 When the AppleScript is double-clicked, it’s opened in the macOS Script Editor, where the malicious functionality is buried deep within the file. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury
  1. inter
  2. conceal
  3. overcome
  4. hide
  5. throw
  6. lay
  7. smother
  8. tomb
Verb
  • If not for the hole, Johnson may have remained in relative obscurity in Spring Grove, a graveyard where the city’s historical elite are interred next to people who never made it into the news.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
  • After his lie in state honor at the Idaho Capitol and a public funeral in May, Kempthorne was interred at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise.
    — Kevin Fixler June 26, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2026
Definition of inter
Verb
  • The two allegedly stole incoming cash and concealed the thefts by generating checks and forging the court clerk’s signature.
    — Nathan Pilling July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
  • But an airline passenger in Indianapolis was caught using a peanut butter jar to conceal something altogether more concerning.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • The rookie point guard overcame early shooting struggles to lead all scorers with 25 points.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
  • The telecommunications giant’s fight to end landline service is playing out in the FCC and federal court, amid an underlying battle over how much power the agency has to overcome decisions by states.
    — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • For loungability there’s a king bed, a hide-a-bed sofa, a fireplace and theater seats.
    — Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • When Fluffy failed to come out of hiding after 24 hours, Melissa Kirby and her husband began making and posting missing cat posters around their neighborhood.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • All the gold is gone, and there’s barely enough to pay her soldiers, let alone throw a lavish coronation.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • California’s court systems have also thrown their weight behind the plaintiffs in the case.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of throw
Verb
  • The pilot program has laid bare a host of questions about the role of AI in medicine, including how it should be regulated, whether doctors should be able to veto it, and what kind of safety measures are needed to protect patients.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • During his 24 years on the Board of Supervisors, Haggerty’s vision of a connected Bay Area laid the groundwork for some of the largest infrastructure projects under construction today.
    — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of lay
Verb
  • Raquel got the early advantage and smothered Maxxine in the corner.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Whether they’re smothered in pepper jelly, doused in barbecue sauce, or wrapped in bacon, appetizers are your chance to set the tone and impress your guests (because, let’s face it, nothing beats the satisfaction of compliments on your spread).
    — Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 June 2026
Definition of smother
Verb
  • The bed resists public-facing things, hence its charge as a womb to tomb motif.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Highlights include the Pyramid of Djoser or Step Pyramid—the world’s oldest pyramid—and the Mastaba of Ti tomb.
    — Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
Definition of tomb

Browse Nearby Words

bursts (in or into)
bury
burying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bury. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bury

Nglish: Translation of bury for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bury

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