guise

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 Many of Mulaney’s friends — including Kroll, Seth Meyers and others from Mulaney’s inner circle — convinced him to come under the guise of a college friend’s dinner. Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 May 2025 Under his direction, USAID kept some of the basic needs initiatives but reformed them under private enterprise guises. Time, 12 May 2025 This tactic is sometimes used to justify letting an employee go under the guise of poor performance. Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025 The designer, known for his maximalist, gender-fluid creations, sees his role as providing a bridge to allow people to explore apparently imaginary identities by slipping into new guises. Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for guise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guise
Noun
  • The federal indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured two of the women under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025
  • Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident said someone convinced them to sign a property deed in lieu of foreclosure to avoid filing for bankruptcy.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Every cobbled lane was blocked by revelers crowded outside the bars, all wearing white-and-red fiesta costumes.
    Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
  • Unfolding against the backdrop of SCAD’s campus in the hilltop village of Lacoste in the Luberon Valley, honorees included actor Toby Jones, director Stephen Frears, screenwriter Christopher Hampton and James Bond and Harry Potter costume designer Jany Temime.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Rounding out the trio is the Circadian Cream Overnight Collagen Seal ($135), a rich overnight mask that doesn’t fully absorb—by design—so skin wakes up still visibly moisturized and refreshed.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The great American novelist John Updike once observed that fame is a mask that eats the famous — and Baggio wears no mask.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Roebuck made one further appearance for Barcelona against Levante in February but did not feature again for the club.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 8 July 2025
  • Stephenson has thrown just one inning as a member of the Angels, hurting himself in his second appearance back from Tommy John surgery on May 30.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Inspired by the lines and craftsmanship of the original arcades, its bold geometric facade and sweeping interiors host a John Lewis department store, serving as a modern counterpart to the grandeur of its Victorian neighbor.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Prioritize window placement early by considering exterior style, symmetry, and scale to ensure the facade feels balanced and visually pleasing.
    Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • In fact, he was wear ing his olive-drab woolens and his over seas cap for hunting garb.
    Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
  • Soldiers from ceremonial units reenact the history of the Army, complete with Revolutionary War garb, music, theatrical vignettes and military pageantry, all meant to serve as a kind of salute to Army soldiers and their families.
    Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • The bags come in pink and black stripes and a camouflage adorned with florals.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
  • The British soldiers fought in red uniforms with orderly precision and methodical execution; Marion fought in camouflage from trees and bushes.
    Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Moreover, some leadership teams today have heightened security concerns, in addition to the challenge of acting as the face and key driver of an organization’s strategic direction.
    Michele Dobnikar, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Alexander punched his father in the face, prompting Taylor to call 911.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/thesaurus/guise. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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