Definition of guisenext
1
2
as in costume
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in mask
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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 guise Everything from the division of the Peaches and the Plums to Shamea’s tagline this season is a secret cry from Shamea to Porsha, begging for attention under the guise of her own emancipation. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 After examining her injury, Brito began to caress and massage Patient 1’s foot under the guise of providing care. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026 The slow-burn thriller is partially based on a 17th century ballad in which the heroic outlaw’s cousin, a malevolent prioress, bleeds the older, ailing Robin to death under the guise of the ancient medical treatment known as bloodletting. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 In a post on X, Bugti said that those who target state officials under the guise of peaceful protest would not escape accountability. ABC News, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for guise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guise
Noun
  • Every horror series at some point has to reset — to drop the pretense that the audience knows or remembers its world, its characters, and its rules, and to start anew with characters who need everything explained to them.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The food is stellar, as is the service, but there isn’t a shred of pretence about any of it.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Katy Rudd is set to direct with set and costume designs by Tony-winning Rob Howell (Matilda the Musical) and choreography from Ellen Kane.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • One of those people is costume designer Debra McGuire, who recently shared the intimate details of her brief collaboration with Parton in the 1990s.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Fast-forward to today, and the brand’s shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, hair masks, and more are flying off the shelf—while the bond-repairing-product business is utterly booming.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The original Acidic Bonding Concentrate line, which included a mask and leave-in and pre-shampoo treatments, went viral several times over for repairing heat and chemical damage in textured hair.
    Ava Welsing-Kitcher, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Hall of Famer Randy Johnson got his 2,000th strikeout in his 262nd appearance for the fewest games.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The 187-horsepower engine is perfectly adequate for ordinary driving, but the XRT’s tougher appearance belies a lack of cojones.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Built in 1939, the dwelling’s traditional facade, with gable dormers and white picket fencing, sets the tone for interiors by local design firm KKD that feel rustic and modern at once.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The team says the material could eventually be used in energy recovery ventilation, building facades, thermal comfort systems and other building applications.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The experience concludes with a performance from dancers in traditional garb and a candle lighting signifying the union between Panamanian and French cultures (Sofitel’s homeland).
    DeMarco Williams, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Creators on social media are showing themselves pitching polyester garb and searching for natural materials.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • From glosses and lowlights to temporary root sprays, there are plenty of ways to soften, blend or camouflage grays without signing yourself up for a standing root appointment every four weeks.
    Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • On his chest was a cartoon teddy bear dressed in camouflage emblazoned with El Chapo’s initials JGL, short for Joaquín Guzmán Loera.
    Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Grande became the face of an ongoing conversation around health, and the cultural pendulum swing away from body positivity to the glorification of thinness, ignited by the proliferation of weight-loss drugs.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Tatcha’s top three stock keeping units today include its $74 Dewy Skin Cream, one jar of which is sold every 30 seconds, as well as the lightweight Water Cream and Rice Wash face wash, priced at $74 and $40, respectively.
    Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guise. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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