hide 1 of 3

Definition of hidenext

hide

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verb (2)

1
2

hide

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury, conceal, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might bury be a better fit than hide?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When could conceal be used to replace hide?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would screen be a reasonable alternative to hide?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would secrete be a good substitute for hide?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

How is the word hide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury, conceal, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might bury be a better fit than hide?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When could conceal be used to replace hide?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would screen be a reasonable alternative to hide?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would secrete be a good substitute for hide?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

How is the word hide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hide are bury, conceal, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might bury be a better fit than hide?

The words bury and hide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When could conceal be used to replace hide?

In some situations, the words conceal and hide are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would screen be a reasonable alternative to hide?

Although the words screen and hide have much in common, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When would secrete be a good substitute for hide?

The meanings of secrete and hide largely overlap; however, 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 hide
Verb
DeSouza, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, was taken into custody after he was found hiding in bushes. Tim Fang, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 Every statistic about patient safety hides a human story. Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
That animal was slashed and bitten all over the body, and pieces of hide as big as a man’s hand had been peeled off. Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026 Walleyes in summer hide in deep cover. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hide
Noun
  • The PlayLab staff will host a story time featuring books inspired by bison, along with a coloring craft event and a touch-and-feel experience with bison pelts.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Please, please, please tell me that pelt was not Rollo.
    Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Ground the look in classic accessories, like leather flats and bracelet watches, to keep your styling effortless and approachable.
    Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 27 Apr. 2026
  • While the 46-year-old pop star looked chic in a black maxi skirt and studded leather jacket, Willow opted for a strapless, floor-length red gown.
    Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Rihanna’s huge yellow fur dress, created by Chinese designer Guo Pei.
    Blanche Marcel, Vanity Fair, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Dander, fur, and dust can accumulate quickly, especially in spaces with carpeting or heavy foot traffic, where particles tend to settle and recirculate throughout the day.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Nataliia hobbled down seven flights of stairs, stopping briefly on the third floor to borrow slippers and a sweater from a friend to cover her pink skin.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.
    Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Caspian Sea, between Europe and Asia, is only about a third as salty as the open ocean and has a number of endemic species, including a little seal with no ears.
    Rosa Lyster, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • They are spread out across six zones, including Red Rocks (tigers, zebra and giraffes), Lakeside Crossing (sea lions, seals and stingrays) and the immersive River’s Edge (elephants, cheetahs and hippos).
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Nataliia had gone to the bus station, where soldiers were spraying foam to contain the nuclear fallout, and to the hospital, where men in white coats were unloading victims on stretchers from the backs of ambulances.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Nikki Glaser wears a light blue dress and boots with a cream coat to the ABC Studios in Hudson Square on April 22 in New York City.
    Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hide. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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