HIDE Synonyms: 261 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hide' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury , conceal , screen , and secrete . While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent. // hide in the closet // a house hidden in the woods

Q: When might 'bury' be a better fit than 'hide'?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely. // buried the treasure

Q: When could 'conceal' be used to replace 'hide'?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge. // concealed the weapon

Q: Where would 'screen' be a reasonable alternative to 'hide'?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery. // a house screened by trees

Q: When would 'secrete' be a good substitute for 'hide'?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others. // secreted the amulet inside his shirt

hide 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈhīd

Definition of hide

as in to conceal

to put into a hiding place the thief had hidden the stolen jewelry under the floorboards

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to obscure

to keep secret or shut off from view he tried to hide his criminal past she hid the cat's litter box behind a screen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lie

to remain out of sight he hid in the closet while his roommate lied to the probation officer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hide

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly the grizzled quartermaster threatened to hide any soldier caught stealing provisions

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to whip

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible threatened to hide the boys with his cane if he ever found them on his property again

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hide

3 of 3

noun

as in pelt

the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value seal hides are used by Eskimos to make footwear, boats, shelters, bags, and clothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in leather

the hairless natural covering of an animal prepared for use boots made of shiny alligator hide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury, conceal, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet

a house hidden in the woods

When might bury be a better fit than hide?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When could conceal be used to replace hide?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would screen be a reasonable alternative to hide?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would secrete be a good substitute for hide?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, 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 hide

Verb

In 2001, Michelle remembers hiding under her desk and hearing helicopters circling over her school. — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 On a relative basis Treasurys start to look like the safe place to hide again in the short term. — Fred Imbert,sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Noun

What the aggregate hides Aggregate resilience tells us how much America is spending. — Katica Roy, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Inside, the car comes with exterior-matching leather and contrasting black hide for the fascia and doors. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hide

Verb

The Symptoms Women Work to Hide Sweating, hot flashes and brain fog are among the symptoms women most often try to conceal, according to the Womea survey.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
The gloom was useful for masking scavenging activities and for concealing one’s identity.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of conceal

Verb

But take a walk inside and the ground is laden with faint slabs of rock, gravestones from a centuries-old Indigenous family cemetery that had been obscured by the passage of time and neglect.

— Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
However, any potential signal is expected to be faint and can be obscured by cosmic variance, the statistical uncertainty that arises when observations cover only a finite portion of the universe.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscure

Verb

That the first foreign policy message after the victory went to Moscow, and through a Russian state outlet, says a good deal about where the new government’s instincts lie.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
Before long, the barricades lay tossed aside and the tents within went up in smoke, along with Vucic's power.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of lie

Verb

Occupying a particularly picturesque and secluded stretch of headland, where Aleppo pines drape rocky coves and the cerulean Mediterranean waves lick the similarly shaded horizon, the resort is the hospitality group’s first foray into the Balearics.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Some wagged their tails as people approached, licked their hands and even liked to be petted.

— Alida de Flamingh, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

Fire crews scrambled late Saturday as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.

— Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Fire crews scrambled late into the night as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of whip

Noun

The couple was involved in transactions that saw American black bear gallbladders and cougar bones being smuggled into Vietnam, as well as black and white rhinoceros horns, lion teeth and a tiger pelt being illegally imported to Oregon.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Though domestic farms peaked about a decade ago, selling luxury pelts that often ended up in China, foreign farms have sprung up, threatening the business.

— Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of pelt

Noun

Even the sundowner snacks packed in leather coolers for game drives are extravagant.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
The sun sets, the mosquitoes come out, and Hollywell serves Betty her kibble dinner in a giant glass mixing bowl before sliding a black leather vest over his band tee.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of leather

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

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Synonyms of hide

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