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.

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

When revealing his diagnosis to the world, he said it reminded him of his decision to publicly come out as gay in 2013 in a front-page cover story for Sports Illustrated.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

In reality, it’s a cover story people use to dress up views — like advocating teen pregnancy — they can’t argue for directly in public.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

Pozen points out that Microsoft, the subject of a recent Barron’s cover story, trades at just 16 times 2028 earnings, its lowest valuation relative to the S&P 500 in a decade.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The cover story was about the Lazarus woodpecker.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley

cover story

Example Sentences

Related Words