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

This isn’t about hiding information or removing legitimate coverage. — Victoria Marshall, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Dress up your table for your next dinner party with these linen placemats, or hide away blankets, books, and other clutter in this coffee table with secret storage. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Noun

In Maine, lobstermen have seen their bait supply tighten, leaving them to fill traps with pig hides and frozen fish, whatever will hold on a hook. — Mark Robichaux, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026 On the southern end of the loop, check out the interactive Bison Center to feel hides, hear the creatures’ varied grunts and bleats, and learn about the park’s efforts to sustainably maintain the herd. — Jess Hoffert, Midwest Living, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hide

Verb

That's because the sink and invisible dual-burner induction cooktop are concealed below a sliding top that works just like a bar or table when retracted.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
All three globe bulbs are concealed here, as is most of the cord, but a foot pedal on/off switch ensures ease of use.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of conceal

Verb

Forward vision is excellent because there’s no roof, A-pillars, or much of anything obscuring your view (the only model above the Signature Edition, called the Grand Touring, does include a roof of sorts).

— William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The glass is reeded and translucent, obscuring the line cooks behind it.

— Alexis Benveniste, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscure

Verb

The vast Ardabil Carpet (Maqsud Kashani, 1539–40), for instance, lies flat in an even vaster gallery, whereas a Qing dynasty chaopao, or formal court robe, hangs in a small, shallow chamber.

— Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Do not lie or lean on concrete floors and walls during thunderstorms, as lightning can travel through metal wires or bars found in concrete walls and flooring.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of lie

Verb

That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
One act featured two young women sitting on the stage and licking orange Popsicles (yes, that was the whole act).

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

Ella Langley continues to whip fans into a frenzy on social media.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of whip

Noun

Despite the early date, the pelts were thick and lush with guard hairs reaching 11 inches.

— Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
River otters were hunted by the thousands for their pelts in the 17th and 18th centuries, according to the Sacramento Zoo’s page about the animal.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of pelt

Noun

The highest-ticket item is a funnel-neck jacket in rich chocolate sheep leather that dissolves into black toward the waist (399€), which can be paired with a matching pencil skirt.

— Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Versatile, timeless, and effortlessly stylish, the Italian leather loafers have a removable Ortholite insole and are designed with support in mind.

— Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of leather

Verb

In many cases, bodies have been washed far downstream and rendered unrecognizable, while others still missing are feared to have been buried in the torrent of thick mud.

— Andrew Jones, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Huntsinger never expected to be dealing with a major mudslide that buried one of the festival’s main venues, The Palm, in three feet of mud.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of bury

Cite this Entry

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“Hide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hide. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hide

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