curtain 1 of 2

noun

ˈkər-tᵊn How to pronounce curtain (audio)
Definition of curtainnext
1
as in veil
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth there has long been a curtain of secrecy surrounding that group

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in drapes
curtains plural pieces of cloth hung to darken, decorate, or divide a room the kittens keep climbing the curtains

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3
as in sleep
curtains plural the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities it'll be curtains for us if we're caught

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

curtain

2 of 2

verb

as in to hide
to keep secret or shut off from view she dropped her head in shame and curtained her face with her hair

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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 curtain
Noun
The sleeveless gown featured a semi-sheer corset bodice with a curtain of lace foliage that cascaded down past the thigh-high slit, forming an elegant silhouette. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026 From a mahogany chest of drawers to multi-pane windows framed by simple pull curtains, everything is so harmoniously aligned that the bedside Kleenex box seems garish in comparison. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Verb
Floor-to-ceiling windows let in lots of natural light, the blackout curtains work well, and the beds are both supportive and plush. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026 His clothes activated, changing to a light layer of armor around his body and limbs, while the hood slipped over his head and curtained his face in a transparent shield. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for curtain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtain
  1. veil
  2. sleep
  3. hide
  4. shroud
  5. doom
  6. conceal
  7. cloak
  8. passing
Noun
  • The nineteenth-century lace veil was found in an antiques market and secured with Grace Kelly's Cartier tiara.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • The strapless corset gown had a sheer illusion jacket embellished with pearls and was paired with a cathedral veil.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of veil
Noun
  • The fastest-growing premium categories increasingly orbit sleep, recovery, longevity, movement and optimisation.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Taking regular cool showers and baths, wetting clothes or towels with cold water and putting your pillowcases in the fridge or freezer can all help further cool your body down, and hopefully, get a good night’s sleep.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 2 July 2026
Definition of sleep
Verb
  • The cover over the logo was cut precisely in the outline of the Levi’s logo – leaving no doubt what the tarp was hiding.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Wrap a wide ribbon multiple times around to hide the elastic to elevate the classic look.
    — Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 8 July 2026
Definition of hide
Noun
  • In the hospital’s courtyard, relatives wept over the bodies covered in white burial shrouds.
    — Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • Silver and predatory birds aside, Silver and eagles aside, the shoe features a black leather and mesh region beneath the shroud with a red Jumpman.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
Definition of shroud
Noun
  • So, this means that TikTok has become more than a platform for doom-scrolling or dance choreography.
    — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The Rat Queen is Riley Pinkerton, mild-mannered doom priestess and Brooklyn artist, whose musical and visual dreams fuel her band’s raging odyssey.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 June 2026
Definition of doom
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
Noun
  • In our post-religious era—in which, beneath the cloak of secular humanitarianism, righteous religiosity and virtuous crusading remain as potent as ever—history has attained the authority, authenticity and prestige that religion and its prelates once possessed.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • Throughout premodern Europe, this is how she was known—the figure in the cloak with a stool on her back, walking to houses at all hours, day and night.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Definition of cloak
Noun
  • Meanwhile, some extra passing clouds allow heat to build up in the San Joaquin Valley during the overnight hours.
    — Sean Macaday July 6, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • Alan Greenspan’s passing is useful not as the subject of my column, but as a marker of an era when many professionals believed large institutions could absorb volatility on their behalf.
    — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of passing

Phrases Containing curtain

Browse Nearby Words

curtails
curtain
curtained
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on curtain

Nglish: Translation of curtain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curtain

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