REVEAL Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'reveal' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reveal are betray , disclose , divulge , and tell . While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason. // divine will as revealed in sacred writings

Q: When is 'betray' a more appropriate choice than 'reveal'?

The words betray and reveal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure. // a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Q: When can 'disclose' be used instead of 'reveal'?

While in some cases nearly identical to reveal , disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret. // candidates must disclose their financial assets

Q: When could 'divulge' be used to replace 'reveal'?

While the synonyms divulge and reveal are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence. // refused to divulge an anonymous source

Q: In what contexts can 'tell' take the place of 'reveal'?

The synonyms tell and reveal are sometimes interchangeable, but tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information. // told them what he had overheard

reveal

verb

ri-ˈvēl

Definition of reveal

as in to disclose

to make known (as information previously kept secret) at the end of the book, the detective reveals the identity of the mysterious stranger

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to show

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs a habitual smirk that reveals his contempt for other people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reveal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reveal are betray, disclose, divulge, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

When is betray a more appropriate choice than reveal?

The words betray and reveal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When can disclose be used instead of reveal?

While in some cases nearly identical to reveal, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When could divulge be used to replace reveal?

While the synonyms divulge and reveal are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can tell take the place of reveal?

The synonyms tell and reveal are sometimes interchangeable, but tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

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 reveal On Monday afternoon, Nieto revealed that Ortega was the mother of the 14-year-old. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The machinery switches on earlier than long assumed, as brain scans of infants reveal. — Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 Ahead of the World Cup in May, Miller Lite revealed its Miller Time MVP Matchball – about 50% larger than a standard soccer ball and able to hold 12 Miller Lite cans. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Quaid was overwhelmed with joy and claimed Cruise personally called him with the news that the production was set, but quickly changed tunes once Hathaway was revealed as Cruise's co-star. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reveal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reveal

Verb

Some of the rogue behavior, which culminated in the breach of the open-source software platform Hugging Face last month, has been disclosed or alluded to previously.

— Reuters, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Unlike that agreement, Circ’s announcement with Shenghong did not tie the purchases to a particular facility or disclose a contract term.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of disclose

Verb

In the comments of an Instagram upload from Bustle, which also showed Stoermer’s Stories post, fans expressed their disappointment with Euphoria‘s conclusion in the comments.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026
Judge Tony Graf found that state prosecutors had shown probable cause, allowing the case to advance to trial.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of show

Verb

Expect to discover many novel flavors of Brazil—butiá, cajú, cumaru—worked into the menu in unique ways.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Detectives believe 44-year-old Lacurtis Knight, from Tamarac, was hit Sunday by the car somewhere else, and then moved by someone to where his body was discovered, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

— David Goodhue August 28, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of discover

Verb

Aggregators and Suppliers Are Not the Same Thing A car rental aggregator is a platform that searches and displays inventory from multiple rental suppliers, allowing travelers to compare rates across dozens of providers at once.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Anyone displaying such pedestrian tastes would immediately be expelled from the room.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of display

Verb

Crucially, professionals must actively listen to uncover underlying needs, use storytelling to clarify concepts, and adapt their message in real-time.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.

— Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of uncover

Verb

The South Korean auteur has directed six movies since 1997, each one demonstrating his literary sensibilities and keen eye for capturing human despair.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
The next step is demonstrating consistent color removal and fiber-quality retention at larger scale, with chemical consumption, wastewater quality and process control among the principal scale-up considerations.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrate

Verb

The referendum campaign has fueled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in the capital on Saturday.

— Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack forced more than 2,600 people to flee their homes, many for the second or third time.

— Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of tell

Verb

Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday, manager Xabi Alonso betrayed some weariness at the lack of closure.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
OpenAI battled its co-founder Elon Musk in a lawsuit accusing the company and Altman of betraying its nonprofit mission.

— Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of betray

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revamps

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“Reveal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reveal. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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