charade

noun

shə-ˈrād How to pronounce charade (audio)
Definition of charadenext
as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive put on a convincing charade to keep her from knowing about the surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 charade This could give divers a simple way to communicate status information without speaking, writing, or frantic underwater charades. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026 Indeed, Congress periodically engages in a debt ceiling charade, which wastes a lot of time and energy and limits nothing. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 15 July 2026 The referee then has to stand in front of the monitor, hands on hips, and go through a charade of free will. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026 Monikers is a party game that progresses from clue-giving to charades, perfect for inside jokes and big groups. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for charade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charade
  1. pretense
  2. facade
  3. show
  4. guise
  5. act
  6. pose
  7. masquerade
Noun
  • The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful—don't expect any pretense here, just genuine (and enjoyable) engagement.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Tom’s frugality also lured Nancy into the business on the pretense of spending more time together.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretense
Noun
  • The story centers on a transfer student’s enigmatic bond with a teacher, as a string of unexplained, supernatural incidents cracks the school’s polished facade.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As Ray goes down the rabbit hole, the shiny facade of Metropia and Megamax (which is, notably and obviously evil from the start) begin to crumble.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of facade
Noun
  • At the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, curator John Fields has built a renowned space for visual art, attracting a kaleidoscope of artists and shows over the course of his 12-year tenure.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Social media and the rise of influencers transformed the streets outside the shows into a stage of their own.
    — Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of show
Noun
  • But unlike Backrooms, SCP Foundation has always been more centralized to this one website, and every subsequent SCP Foundation work has always fallen under the guise of the Creative Commons license, something the Backrooms creepypasta never did.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
  • As critics such as Antonio Candido have remarked, regionalism was at bottom an attempt to render Latin American reality in its dominant rural guise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of guise
Noun
  • At one point, Soulan points out that the crime of fuel-smuggling is minor compared to the barons profiting off the very same — and shouldn’t the motivation, the practical outcome of the act, count for something?
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The high-wire act that followed—in which performers had to make these bland conceits into something funny without, ostensibly, preparing any jokes in advance—introduced a tension that made sketch shows feel sedate and uneven by comparison.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of act
Noun
  • On social media, viewers immediately marveled at Rosalía’s ability to deliver her usual powerful vocals during the first song while striking the pose — and some wondered if she was somehow being propped up through unseen means.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • So Sherman bought a bunch of funky fabric and cheap rhinestone jewelry and recreated the poses herself, as only the great artist of our postmodern age could.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pose
Noun
  • Each show has a different theme that will transport you to an over-the-top setting, from a masquerade ball to old Hollywood.
    — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2026
  • That kind of cynicism is cheap and facile and masquerades as intelligence and erudition.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of masquerade

Browse Nearby Words

character sketches
charade
charades
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Cite this Entry

“Charade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charade. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on charade

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charade

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