masquerade 1 of 2

noun

ˌma-skə-ˈrād How to pronounce masquerade (audio)
Definition of masqueradenext
as in facade
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

masquerade

2 of 2

verb

as in to pose

Related Words

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 masquerade
Noun
For Challenge 2 and beyond, the players get masquerade-ball half-masks on sticks, sans eyeholes, to use as blindfolds during challenge setups. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 But the maison will also have a trio of exclusive treatments on offer at Hotel Cipriani, which were crafted to honor Christian Dior’s love of masquerade balls and Venice. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 27 July 2026
Verb
The most powerful of the three attack variants causes the infected Windows machine to masquerade as an iPhone. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026 Set amid the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the tragic tale of Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is famous for allowing real nightmares to masquerade as bloody fairytales. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerade
  1. facade
  2. pose
  3. pretense
  4. pretend
  5. show
  6. impersonate
  7. guise
  8. act
Noun
  • Underneath that façade was a sociopathic white supremacist neo-Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day.
    — Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Starting in 2027, the Plaza Hotel will embark on a four-year-long renovation of its marble façade.
    — Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of facade
Verb
  • The Houthis have repeatedly attacked airports and oil infrastructure across the kingdom with drones and missiles that can change direction during flight, posing a challenge to interceptors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Bristol officials say that comprehensive traffic studies have identified over 35 high-crash intersections across the city that pose immediate danger to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pose
Noun
  • The application moves away from last-minute stress, unwanted items, and polite pretense, establishing a modern channel for intentional giving.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And the idea that yakuza were on the side of the common man was rarely anything more than a pretense.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretense
Verb
  • Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In a news release, police said that 25-year-old Baldwin Park resident Juan Carlos Amaya contacted the teenage girl via Snapchat and began talking to her while pretending to be 17 years old.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretend
Noun
  • For years, the show's staff has begun each morning with a long meeting about the day's news, and what should and should not be included in the two-hour broadcast.
    — Scott Detrow, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Presley Gerber followed his mom's footsteps into modeling, being signed by IMG Models at 15 years old and walking runway shows for brands including Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of show
Verb
  • Last year, the AI startup removed chatbots that impersonated popular Disney characters such as Elsa and Darth Vader after the Burbank entertainment behemoth sent a cease-and-desist letter.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The message can create an immediate fear that someone is impersonating you online.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of impersonate
Noun
  • In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • But unlike Backrooms, SCP Foundation has always been more centralized to this one website, and every subsequent SCP Foundation work has always fallen under the guise of the Creative Commons license, something the Backrooms creepypasta never did.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of guise
Verb
  • The American Civil Liberties Union sued in February, alleging officers hurled racial epithets, acted violently, and largely withheld food, water, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Documents detailing meetings in April and August between the government, the WHO and other health partners, reviewed by Reuters and not previously reported, show how efforts to act fast may have led to shortcomings.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of act

Phrases Containing masquerade

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masque
masquerade
masquerade (as)
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Cite this Entry

“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerade. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on masquerade

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about masquerade

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