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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Whatever ends up coming for Alpha, with their TV fragmented into a billion tiny screens, it’s bound to be bizarre. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026 The movie scored a head-spinning $355 million from 4,487 North American screens to land as the second-biggest domestic launch ever. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Aug. 2026

Verb

This year, VisionSpring will screen its 1 millionth garment worker. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 31 July 2026 On Saturday, there is a film screening about Adam Osborne, who was cool before Steve Jobs with his invention of the portable computer. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for screen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for screen

Noun

Tim Graef's golden retriever, River, could have been a star in the new film, but didn't make it past the application process.

— Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
There is some hope that allowing Disney intellectual property to fuel TikTok pieces will have a halo effect for Disney’s films and programs.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of film

Noun

In a post on X, Kono, former defense minister under the Abe administration, warned that the plan could undermine confidence in Japan's fiscal position, push interest rates higher and weaken the yen.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
The network isn’t even mustering up a defense for Jeanine Pirro, previously one of its most prominent pro-Trump hosts.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of defense

Verb

That’s why the systems are built with redundancy — typically to protect against natural disasters, cut cables and the like, but now for attacks, as well.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
From as early as April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of ensuring that the country’s energy and infrastructure facilities are fully operational and reliably protected for the next heating season.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of protect

Verb

Blending coming-of-age drama with a dreamlike, science-fiction edge, the film filters Argentina’s economic instability and the pull of the digital world through the perspective of a child searching for an escape.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 30 July 2026
For starters, neither file is filtered beyond building classification code.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Definition of filter

Verb

Over the years, she's been given a moon rock and received a piece of gold foil that covered the Apollo 11 capsule — a gift from one of the Navy frogmen who helped recover the command module and its crew.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
The program covers up to 80% of the costs to rent and provides $10,000 grants to cover the costs of things like permit fees and insurance expenses.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of cover

Noun

In honor of the upcoming movie, the All Roads Lead to Camp bus is touring across the country and bringing fans, new and old, into the world of Camp Rock, PEOPLE previously revealed exclusively.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
A lot of people watch movies at home now, and that’s just part of our world and our culture.

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of movie

Noun

Derek Hill hit his head against the outfield railing while trying to make a leaping catch at the wall, and the ball caromed toward right field.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Organizers also are paying to build 1,800 walls weighing 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) each to ring the track and metal detectors that will be manned by the Secret Service.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of wall

Browse Nearby Words

screeching

screen

screened

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Style

“Screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screen. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of screen

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing screen

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on screen

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Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

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Why does English have so many silent letters?

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Games & Quizzes