1
2
as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place buried his face in his hands as his wife recounted the embarrassing incident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bury distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of bury are conceal, hide, screen, and secrete. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

When would conceal be a good substitute for bury?

The meanings of conceal and bury largely overlap; however, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

Where would hide be a reasonable alternative to bury?

The synonyms hide and bury are sometimes interchangeable, but hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When might screen be a better fit than bury?

While the synonyms screen and bury are close in meaning, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

When is it sensible to use secrete instead of bury?

The words secrete and bury can be used in similar contexts, but secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bury He was buried in a historic cemetery in Guthrie, Okla. — under a two-foot layer of concrete, lest anyone be tempted to take him on tour again. Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025 In court filings challenging a permit issued in Michigan, Bay Mills Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Paula Carrick explained that such items are often buried with the deceased for their journey in the afterlife. Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025 Too often, retention is buried in dashboards and quarterly reports. David Goldstein, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 In a recent public hearing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff confirmed that 15 livestock losses formed the basis of a large compensation claim, but didn’t clarify how many occurred before the producer implemented basic deterrents, like burying an open carcass pit. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury
Verb
  • Francis is the first pope in over a century not to be interred at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Like yesterday, and the days before, she is interred in the ground up to her waist, the afterthought of some unnamed apocalypse.
    Han Ong, New Yorker, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Speculation online has included allegations that the federal government was concealing information to shield powerful and prominent figures who were allegedly named in case records.
    Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 11 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, her makeup turned more matte with concealed under eyes like at The Blonds Fall 2014 show.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • There can be ways to overcome the objections of the people who are concerned that new technology will make their jobs obsolete.
    Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • Others tolerate challenging growing conditions, like heat and drought, or were bred to overcome common problems such as heavy soil.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Eight airports in different states appeared to have dropped the requirement, in place since 2006 after a British man in 2001 attempted to destroy an airliner with explosives hidden in a shoe.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 8 July 2025
  • The Transportation Security Administration adopted the no-shoes rule in 2006 after a British man boarded a 2001 American Airlines flight with explosives hidden in a shoe.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • However, if Lillard is planning to sign with a team this year and wants to land more than the minimum, that throws a wrench into the larger free-agent landscape.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Shakur, Knight, and Lane swarmed Anderson, throwing fists and kicks, dislocating his shoulder in the process.
    Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • This lightweight leave-in conditioner is designed for all curl types, from loose waves to coily textures, and hydrates without adding a smothering layer of buildup.
    Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 7 July 2025
  • Instead, bruising inside Aria’s cheeks and cuts in her mouth consistent with being smothered to death were discovered, said Dr. Tran.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Trump said military pilots who successfully bombed Iran will be guests for a flyover of military planes during the patriotic ceremony.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 July 2025
  • The Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran in June concluded shortly after the United States intervened by bombing Iranian nuclear sites with 30,000-pound bunker busters dropped by strategic B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • The internet has fragmented and flattened subcultures.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025
  • About a mile south — at a rural corner lot since flattened by Tuesday’s calamitous explosions at a fireworks storage facility — laid the place where their missing sons and grandsons, respectively, were last known to be.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Bury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bury. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bury

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!