conceal

verb

kən-ˈsēl How to pronounce conceal (audio)
Definition of concealnext
1
as in to hide
to put into a hiding place wisely concealed the documents in a drawer beneath a false bottom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to obscure
to keep secret or shut off from view the defense attorney accused the prosecutor of trying to conceal exculpatory evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conceal distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conceal are bury, hide, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

When would bury be a good substitute for conceal?

While the synonyms bury and conceal are close in meaning, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

Where would hide be a reasonable alternative to conceal?

The synonyms hide and conceal 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 conceal?

The words screen and conceal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When is secrete a more appropriate choice than conceal?

While in some cases nearly identical to conceal, 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 conceal Adding to the company’s struggles is a lawsuit from shareholders, who allege Target concealed the risks tied to its DEI efforts. — Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2025 Perhaps most alarmingly, Wynn-Williams claims that Zuckerberg attempted to conceal these cooperative efforts with the CCP from the U.S. Congress, raising serious questions about transparency and potential legal implications. — Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025 She’s convicted of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government by concealing undeclared foreign accounts, filing false tax returns and evading taxes over a decade, according to a plea agreement with the Justice Department. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025 Dark Empaths can grasp the subtleties of human behavior and use that insight to conceal their shortcomings behind a brash level of confidence. — Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceal
  1. hide
  2. obscure
  3. bury
  4. suppress
  5. cover
  6. disguise
Verb
  • The ancient springhead, natural waterpark, and retro roadside attraction has more than a few secrets hidden in its eelgrass.
    — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
  • But all that family turmoil was hidden, and to most who knew him, Dr. Schwartz seemed to have a beautiful life until the evening of May 28, 2014, when Becky Schwartz came home and discovered her home in disarray.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Baseball’s celebration of that day often obscures the fact that MLB hasn’t been African American friendly in decades.
    — Terence Moore, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • As recalls have been announced, Cybertruck sales have seemingly slumped, as Tesla obscured the true figures by lumping numbers in with sales of Model X and Model S, MotorTrend reported.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of obscure
Verb
  • Gaza’s health ministry said the toll was likely to rise with many people buried under rubble.
    — Abeer Salman, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Scattered across a chain of subtropical islands in southwestern Japan, buried under rocks, or deep within the region’s humid soil, researchers discovered seven new species with segmented bodies and dozens of slender legs.
    — Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of bury
Verb
  • So could a weight loss medication that blocks opiate receptors along with suppressing appetite be effective?
    — Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Consider the scenario of deeper economic stagnation: a prolonged downturn could significantly delay the recovery of the housing sector, exacerbating affordability struggles, and suppressing new residential construction.
    — Ali Hoss, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • Furthermore, not all insurance companies cover the testing.
    — Ellen Matloff, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and cover your head, or leave your vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of cover
Verb
  • Some Tesla owners have reported their cars being vandalized, while other embarrassed drivers have even tried to disguise their cars as models by other manufacturers.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The withdrawn San Francisco drama, about lonely nonbinary nanny and restaurant server Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), is simple in its presentation, but disguises numerous layers to its story.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of disguise

Browse Nearby Words

concavity
conceal
concealed
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Cite this Entry

“Conceal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceal. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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