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
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Recent Examples of masquerade
Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Noun
Despite their masquerade ball meet-cute, the similarities to previous seasons are few and far between.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
After entering the venue, ticket holders are fitted for a masquerade mask and given a glass of champagne before they’re thrust into the action.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Today’s online environment intensifies this effect, allowing a small number of loud or coordinated voices to masquerade as true consensus.
—Big Think, 27 Nov. 2025
Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masquerade
Noun
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While Metcalf’s Linda adopts a facade of stoicism to shield her family from the grief erupting in her, Abbott’s Biff is forced to reveal the broken man behind the defiant veneer.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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The southern façade, for instance, is entirely solid—no windows, no openings—to shield the interior from the most brutal solar rays.—
Nick Mafi,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) cited national security and cybersecurity risks posed by reliance on Chinese models as a reason for the joint inquiry.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
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As the name suggests, Display Mode was built for collectors who want to pose and show off Grogu.—
Kirsten Acuna,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the day of Lincoln’s election, the Wide Awakes patrolled polling places under the pretense of protecting democracy, while opponents viewed it as voter intimidation.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
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Authorities said the gun had been purchased under false pretenses in Indiana.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because good ex-etiquette isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
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At this point, the NFL is not even pretending the draft is about the handful of prospects sitting in the green room.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While discussing the delicate tone of the show and its balance of being a satire on the Hollywood movie business and a love letter to chasing your dream, Cretton said the creative team focused on character to find their way.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
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The entire show can be seen on Billboard’s YouTube channel, below.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Julián Jiménez Catholic Charities has publicly warned that its representatives are being impersonated to scam immigrants.—
Albinson Linares,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, her origin myth, in which she was hatched from an egg laid by her mother, Leda, who had been ravished by Zeus in the guise of a swan, is plainly invention.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
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This pliable guise is partially what makes his persona such a durable meme.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials say that general counsel Karen Buffkin will serve in an acting leadership role to ensure continuity of operations while the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education determines next steps in the selection of new leadership.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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To sniff out the atomic hydrogen — the more diffuse, cooler gas that acts as the initial, sprawling reservoir for future star formation — the team harnessed the immense power of China's Five Hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST).—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masquerade. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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