bury

verb

ˈber-ē How to pronounce bury (audio)
Definition of burynext
1
as in to inter
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea he died on Tuesday and was buried on Friday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place buried his face in his hands as his wife recounted the embarrassing incident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to overcome
to defeat by a large margin if we don't work harder, the other softball team will bury us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bury distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of bury are conceal, hide, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When would conceal be a good substitute for bury?

The meanings of conceal and bury largely overlap; however, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would hide be a reasonable alternative to bury?

The synonyms hide and bury 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 bury?

While the synonyms screen and bury are close in meaning, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When is it sensible to use secrete instead of bury?

The words secrete and bury can be used in similar contexts, but 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 bury The plot follows a wealthy family whose lives fall apart after their young nanny disappears during a summer holiday and the family’s secrets and buried guilt rise to the surface. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 Most of the victims were cremated or buried, and only two had autopsies. — S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Similar memorial and burial ceremonies will be held Thursday in three other parts of Vietnam, with the remains of what are believed to be 93 people to be buried in Tuyen Quang province. — Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 But thankfully, Dodge hasn't decided that every function needs to be buried three menus deep in a touchscreen. — New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury
  1. inter
  2. conceal
  3. overcome
  4. hide
  5. throw
  6. lay
  7. smother
  8. tomb
Verb
  • The spores inside him are alive and well and ready to spread should his unpreserved body be interred in the soil.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Following the service, the King will be interred in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, alongside the late King Haakon VII, Queen Maud, King Olav V & Crown Princess Märtha.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of inter
Verb
  • The listening device was plugged into a USB port on the back of a television, concealed by a small piece of toilet paper, according to the FBI.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The device, which had a detachable camera sensor, digital microphone, and microSD storage, was concealed in toilet paper, according to the complaint.
    — Dan Mangan,Eamon Javers,Paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • For now, the study identifies a previously underappreciated part of the immune system that could help overcome one of SCLC’s most persistent defenses.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But Gordon has emerged as Miami’s clear lead back, capable of overcoming a poor situation.
    — Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • Ambarchi is the director who makes occasional cameos, hiding with his guitar in the shadows until stepping forward only when necessary.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Young men from the village threw stones back, Khrzhanovskiy said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That sudden ascent, for a band spiritually in league with the Velvet Underground and Suicide, led some to wonder what exactly happened behind the social media scenes to get them there (one conspiratorial phrase got thrown around in particular).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of throw
Verb
  • The body was laid bare, via dramatic cutouts, lingerie, transparent and transluscent garments, to accentuate the form.
    — Rachael Akhidenor, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • John Benjamin Hickey’s play-it-as-it-lays revival more frequently chooses to pretend that the obstacle isn’t there.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of lay
Verb
  • Investigators determined that Blake also had blunt-force injuries and signs of smothering.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Their pursuit of a three-peat has been smothered by the Brewers’ own version of a three-peat, and nearly all hope is lost.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of smother
Verb
  • The bed resists public-facing things, hence its charge as a womb to tomb motif.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Highlights include the Pyramid of Djoser or Step Pyramid—the world’s oldest pyramid—and the Mastaba of Ti tomb.
    — Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
Definition of tomb

Browse Nearby Words

bursts (in or into)
bury
burying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bury. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bury

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