unmask

verb

un·​mask ˌən-ˈmask How to pronounce unmask (audio)
unmasked; unmasking; unmasks
Synonyms of unmasknext

transitive verb

1
: to reveal the true nature of : expose
She was unmasked as a spy.
2
: to remove a mask from

intransitive verb

: to remove one's mask

Synonyms of unmask

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Examples of unmask in a Sentence

He was unmasked as a spy. the killer's identity won't be unmasked until the season's final episode
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The good news is that these sites are easy to unmask, and none of the checks require special tools. — Boris Dzhingarov, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Pangram has recently been credited with helping implode a lucrative book deal and unmasking AI use at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The boy told them that Ortiz’s suspicions about a fellow trekker had been well founded; upon crossing into Spain, one of the other Poles had been unmasked as a Gestapo spy. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 Investigators who tried to unmask Dark Harvest scoured the local Highland communities, but got nowhere in their inquiries. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unmask

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of unmask was in 1562

Rhymes for unmask

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Browse Nearby Words

unmasculine
unmask
unmasker
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Cite this Entry

“Unmask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unmask. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unmask

verb
un·​mask ˌən-ˈmask How to pronounce unmask (audio)
ˈən-
: to strip of a mask or a disguise : expose
unmask a traitor
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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