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Definitions

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.

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

Speaking to journalists in Finland, where he is attending a security summit, Sir Keir Starmer speculation McSweeney's account could be untrue and the government was involved in a cover-up was wrong.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

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

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

The victims' families also said valuable evidence was lost when the crash site was bulldozed soon after the accident, leading to claims of an attempted cover-up.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

He likes to make jokes, but what if that’s all a cover-up for whatever struggles he’s going through?

From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks