DISGUISES Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

disguises 1 of 2

noun

plural of disguise

as in costumes

clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else Mardi Gras revelers dressed in a colorful array of outlandish disguises

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in guises

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive somehow, he managed to put on a disguise of happiness as he watched his secret crush marry someone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disguises

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of disguise

as in masks

to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity the spies disguised themselves as harmless tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hides

to keep secret or shut off from view that investigative reporter usually does a good job of disguising her true motives for interviewing a person

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 disguises

Noun

Authorities at the Villages denied him access, and the shoot required him to dodge security guards, charm subjects, and occasionally adopt disguises. — Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026 More than historical curiosities, such stories reveal how elaborate disguises can become necessary as a means of survival in a world that denies people the freedom to be themselves — both historically and today. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Despite disguises, they were recognized by a man outside, who raised the alarm. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026 Among them, Mimi Sheraton, who donned wigs and other disguises to go unrecognized when reviewing. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026 Flores is writing new code on how to build a formidable defense, one that disguises blitzes that apply pressure from all angles. — Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026 The lightweight cream disguises dark circles, redness, blemishes, and uneven tone, melting in seamlessly enough to blend across larger areas in place of foundation. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026 Jones’ system is multiple but predicated largely on Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ high-press scheme, with plenty of pre-snap disguises, overloaded fronts and interchangeable assignments. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The thieves wore no disguises or face coverings according to a report by Vienna’s police department. — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

With a virtual private network, your requests are pushed through an anonymized server in a different location, which disguises your identifying information. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 L’Oréal Paris’ True Match Radiant Serum Concealer checks both boxes, delivering medium coverage that disguises dark circles, redness, blemishes, and discoloration without looking heavy. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026 Wedding clients perform love instead of living it; her brother, a congressman, disguises his LGBTQ identity to make his political one more palatable; the gentrifiers of her neighborhood trumpet their changes as progress. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 The Hulu series takes the concept to new heights, with Powell playing Russ Holliday, a disgraced former college quarterback who disguises himself as Chad Powers to try to revive his football career. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026 Today, greenwashing often disguises the true nature of corporate activity by appealing to the increasing number of people who care about environmental sustainability. — Marissa E. Yingling, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026 The film itself is about a Jewish woman who refuses the limits imposed on her mind and disguises herself as a man in order to study, and the parallel was impossible to miss. — Debbie Millman, Time, 25 July 2026 In the text, Athena disguises herself as Mentor to guide Telemachus on his journey to Sparta. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026 Chives’ strong scent naturally disguises the scent of pepper plants from pests. — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disguises

Noun

Again, these can be seamlessly slotted into consumers’ occasion dressing in a manner that typical costumes cannot.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
The costumes were part of the latest episode of Thiele’s podcast In Your Dreams, with the new episode dropping at the same time as the Instagram reveal.

— Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of costumes

Noun

Throughout the weekend, Dudamel embraced the worlds of Hollywood, Latin music in many guises and old-fashioned rock.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
With their traditional, legacy rivals — the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur — in various guises of transition, Arsenal are suddenly the team to beat and the Emirates is suddenly a library of sound; noise please.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of guises

Verb

Still, this growth masks a widespread sense of anxiety, driven far more by Washington politics than anything to do with market fundamentals, according to a survey of regional oil companies by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in late September.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The overall improvement also masks differences among companies assessed in both years.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of masks

Verb

The malicious software hides inside the phone's firmware, giving attackers powerful access that ordinary apps never receive.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Thursday’s note measures gross job losses rather than unemployment, because the jobless rate hides people.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of hides

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
More than 70,000 police officers fanned out in Paris and other cities while stores boarded up their facades after last week’s riots.

— Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of facades

Verb

This one, in particular, has a body-skimming fit that’s sleek enough to tuck into jeans or skirts, plus a nice ribbed design that camouflages bra lines.

— Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026
The silky, buildable formula camouflages all things acne scars, dark circles, and other blemishes without looking thick or cakey.

— Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of camouflages

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
Conference expansion has shattered pretenses to regional coherence.

— Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of pretenses

Browse Nearby Words

disguised

disguises

disguising

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disguises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disguises. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disguises

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes