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
And that, in 1990, the Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at the George Hotel in Rye, Sussex, featured Lady Chatterley’s Lover’s Soup. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 The long shadow of the occupation Twenty-three years after George Bush and Tony Blair resolved that Iraqis were to be emancipated, the country remains captive to a masquerade of power. — Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 2026
Verb
For his part, Amato was a techno sophisticate masquerading as a party monster. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 23 May 2026 The interior designers agreed that the most consistent small space trend is storage that masquerades as something else or serves multiple purposes. — Lacey Ramburger, The Spruce, 22 May 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
  • Upon closer inspection, the facade and interiors alike have details that are unexpectedly progressive.
    — Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Hirshman said the Center currently has $5 million in its building fund to fix up West-Park Church’s facade and roof.
    — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of facade
Verb
  • Heavy rains in burn scar areas can pose serious threats of flash flooding, and the sheriff's office asked residents to take precautions around the scarred areas.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Although climate scientists warned in the nineteen-eighties that extreme heat posed a growing danger, policymakers in Europe didn’t come to grips with it until August, 2003, when a heat wave killed more than seventy thousand people.
    — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of pose
Noun
  • 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
  • Before Starlink, someone on a business trip might still decide to expense suboptimal Wi-Fi to keep up the pretense of working.
    — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretense
Verb
  • Storch does not pretend to be a long-distance lover of English football.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • An ostrich recommends that Taylor hide and pretend nothing happened.
    — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretend
Noun
  • The phrase describes a common, temporary condition that research shows affects about 80% of people who give birth.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The project is being made in association with Hathiramani Commercial Ventures and co-produced with investor and entrepreneur Manish Hathiramani, who marks his producing debut with the show.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of show
Verb
  • London — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, POLITICO reported Monday, citing four anonymous officials.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Phishing attempts have continued with people associated with Wiles in recent months after an incident in May 2025 when US law enforcement launched an investigation into efforts to impersonate her.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of impersonate
Noun
  • Somewhere between a sandal and a ballet flat, caged silhouettes come in all manner of guises.
    — Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of guise
Verb
  • As the Green Lantern, Hal has the power to create material items through his ring, and acts as an intergalactic space officer protecting humanity from extraterrestrial threats.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Nightie dresses also act as the ultimate transitional wardrobe essential.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of act

Phrases Containing masquerade

Browse Nearby Words

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 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on masquerade

Nglish: Translation of masquerade for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about masquerade

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