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Definitions

cover story

NOUN
excuse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alibi apology justification pretext rationalization substitute trick
STRONG
cleanup cover defense disguise evasion expedient extenuation grounds jive makeshift mitigation plea regrets routine semblance shift song stall stopgap story subterfuge vindication whitewash
WEAK
come-off cop-out coverup fish story song and dance why and wherefore
Antonyms
STRONG
permanent
NOUN
pretext
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alibi come-off excuse guise ploy pretense ruse
STRONG
affectation appearance bluff cleanup cloak color coloring cover cover-up device face feint front mask masquerade plea routine semblance show simulation stall stratagem subterfuge veil
WEAK
cop-out fig leaf red herring song and dance
Antonyms
STRONGEST
reality
STRONG
back rear truth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fortune pondered whether Sam Bankman-Fried was “The Next Warren Buffett?” in a cover story mere months before the collapse of his crypto exchange FTX in 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

He later told her that identity was a cover story and in fact he was working for the intelligence services.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

In her “Vanity Fair” cover story last year, Charli told writer Anna Peele that she turned down a Brat Tour documentary, despite her label pressuring her to make one.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

You can read more of this week’s cover story here and more from Cohen on the Berkshire comparison here.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Scope magazine’s cover story about Zlata Filipovic last spring inspired me to read her diary about war-torn Bosnia.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.