SCREEN Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'screen' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of screen are bury , conceal , hide , and secrete . While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery. // a house screened by trees

Q: When would 'bury' be a good substitute for 'screen'?

The synonyms bury and screen are sometimes interchangeable, but bury implies covering up so as to hide completely. // buried the treasure

Q: When might 'conceal' be a better fit than 'screen'?

The words conceal and screen can be used in similar contexts, but conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge. // concealed the weapon

Q: When could 'hide' be used to replace 'screen'?

The meanings of hide and screen largely overlap; however, hide may or may not suggest intent. // hide in the closet // a house hidden in the woods

Q: Where would 'secrete' be a reasonable alternative to 'screen'?

While in some cases nearly identical to screen , secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others. // secreted the amulet inside his shirt

screen 1 of 2

noun

ˈskrēn

Definition of screen

as in film

the art or business of making a movie he was a star of both stage and screen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in defense

means or method of defending the target will be difficult to reach as it is behind a screen of anti-aircraft batteries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

screen

2 of 2

verb

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from attack helicopters were called in to help screen the troops from further attacks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to hide

to keep secret or shut off from view bushes screened the swimming pool from passersby on the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to filter

to pass through a filter you should screen the cooking oil to remove impurities

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as in to cover

to place a protective layer over screened his eyes with his hand to block the sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word screen distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of screen are bury, conceal, hide, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would bury be a good substitute for screen?

The synonyms bury and screen are sometimes interchangeable, but bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When might conceal be a better fit than screen?

The words conceal and screen can be used in similar contexts, but conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

When could hide be used to replace screen?

The meanings of hide and screen largely overlap; however, hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet

a house hidden in the woods

Where would secrete be a reasonable alternative to screen?

While in some cases nearly identical to screen, 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 screen

Noun

Displayed against the bedroom’s 19th-century Coromandel screen is a 2025 John Kelly self-portrait modeled after Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026 Aside from the larger Lenovo model, even their screen resolutions and sizes are close. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Diseased tissues give off a chemical compound that becomes gas and, scientists believe, could be used as a noninvasive way to assess who needs further screening. — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Peet, who had been screened since her late 30s because of dense breast tissue and prior benign lumps, was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation and is now on tamoxifen. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for screen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for screen

Noun

The nearly six-minute film shows how the team combines precision machining, assembly, and repair to accelerate robot development.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Dyrholm’s casting in Incidents of Intimacy marks a homecoming for the Danish actress who was part of the ensemble cast in Thomas Vinterberg’s Cannes Jury Prize winner The Celebration, the first film to be made under the original manifesto.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of film

Noun

Denmark's defense intelligence service specifically warned Russia could use such tactics to split the NATO alliance.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Against Henderson, the Dodgers took advantage of mistakes by the Brewers’ usually fundamentally sound defense to score four runs against him, only two of which were earned.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of defense

Verb

Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
Go rebound the basketball, go protect the rim, be a big big for us.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of protect

Verb

Today, Flex is largely viewed as a traditional manufacturing company, sometimes covered by industrials analysts rather than technology analysts.

— Paul Meeks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Alongside these are conventional effects plugins covering reverb, delay, chorus, compression, EQ, distortion/saturation, and pitch shifting.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of cover

Noun

The biggest names in movies, music, fashion and beyond pulled out their sartorial best for the annual fundraiser that celebrates cinematic achievement and raises money for the museum.

— Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2026
None offered particularly impressive image quality in our standard tests using movies on disc, but most were within what most people will consider an acceptable range.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of movie

Noun

The third suspect acknowledged receiving the paintings at his home and hiding them behind a wall built beneath a staircase after the theft.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Simon took the campy photographs in the same Hilton hotel where Moore’s children awaited their mother, and the images make up what the wall text calls a MooreWrap cruise-collection look book.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of wall

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screeching

screen

screened

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“Screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screen. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of screen

noun

verb

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on screen

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Games & Quizzes