cover-up

[kuhv-er-uhp] / ˈkʌv ərˌʌp /

NOUN

concealing; preventing investigation or exposure

Synonyms

STRONGEST

complicity conspiracy evasion

STRONG

burial camouflage concealment dissimulation front masking pretense whitewash

WEAK

closeting disguising hush-up placing under wraps seal of secrecy smokescreen veil of secrecy

VERB

conceal

Synonyms

STRONG

batten black out bottle up bury camouflage conceal cover deflect disguise dissemble equivocate gloss guard hush up inhume inter mask misinform misrepresent misrepresent/misquote obscure paint protect screen secrete shelter shield stifle suppress veil

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.

He added: "There's not a cover-up here, it's just being transparent."

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Human rights activists and relatives of the missing quickly denounced the report as a cover-up — the latest attempt to “disappear the disappeared.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

One thing is certain: The cover-up isn’t being conducted in the shadows.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

Residents have raised concerns about the risk of a serious accident, citing frequent cover-up scandals, minor accidents and evacuation plans they say are inadequate.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

Dean, who had helped organize the cover-up, described the Plumbers and the Ellsberg break-in.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

cover-up

Example Sentences

Related Words