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.

The research was featured as the cover story in Significance, the flagship magazine of the Royal Statistical Society and the American Statistical Association.

From Science Daily • Jul. 9, 2026

The first Bulletin cover story on climate change was in 1978 — a long time before anybody else was looking at it.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026

If Spielberg’s earlier UFO movies gave us awe, comfort and catastrophe, this one feels like an encounter of a fourth kind: What happens when the cover story breaks?

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

But as Barron’s latest cover story noted, it’s way too early to write Sin City off.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Stuart, unconvinced and suspicious of the elaborate and ridiculous cover story Herold spun for him, reluctantly offered to feed them.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

cover story

Example Sentences

Related Words