charade

noun

shə-ˈrād How to pronounce charade (audio)
Definition of charadenext
as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive put on a convincing charade to keep her from knowing about the surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 charade Behind the scenes, Meta is having some of these calls being handled by humans in call centers, 404 Media reports, despite employees practically begging the company not to go through with the charade. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026 Larry remembers the brief charade of having to pretend the song was written for the film. — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 This could give divers a simple way to communicate status information without speaking, writing, or frantic underwater charades. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026 Indeed, Congress periodically engages in a debt ceiling charade, which wastes a lot of time and energy and limits nothing. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for charade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charade
  1. pretense
  2. facade
  3. show
  4. guise
  5. act
  6. pose
  7. masquerade
Noun
  • Shirley has since visited other states in the US under similar pretenses, showing up unannounced to grocery stores and hospice centers in search of evidence of fraud.
    — Mia Sato, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The application moves away from last-minute stress, unwanted items, and polite pretense, establishing a modern channel for intentional giving.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretense
Noun
  • These boutiques offer distinct expressions of each house, while their facades contribute to a streetscape with an individual character.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Framed by concrete, the glass façade reflects its surroundings as well as the sky.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of facade
Noun
  • The halftime show began in partnership with The Salvation Army in 1997 as a way to raise money for the long-standing charity.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The company is planning to launch a handful of new shows over the next few months, with a longer-term goal of having 12-16 channels led by creators who are subject matter experts.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of show
Noun
  • In street-legal guise, the original Shelby Cobra 427 S/C MKIII comprised a run of only 31 examples in period.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of guise
Noun
  • Later, in 1711, the colony passed a legislative act to make reparations to the victims, including restoring the good names of the accused and paying financial retributions to the families of the accused.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The rush from the other 29 teams to acquire him would be quite literally hilarious, because trading Ohtani would be an act of financial suicide for LA and a massive windfall for a new team.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of act
Noun
  • Current facial recognition systems, originally developed for photographs, can compare faces despite differences in pose, lighting, expression, age, and image quality.
    — Karen Chernick, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In the event of Lula’s defeat, Brazil may cut a very different pose on the world stage.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of pose
Noun
  • Kicking it all off is a masquerade ball where masks and sparkling costumes are the norm.
    — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Each show has a different theme that will transport you to an over-the-top setting, from a masquerade ball to old Hollywood.
    — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of masquerade

Browse Nearby Words

character sketches
charade
charades
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Cite this Entry

“Charade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charade. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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