BURY Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bury

verb

ˈber-ē

Definition of bury next

as in to inter

to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea he died on Tuesday and was buried on Friday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in to overcome

to defeat by a large margin if we don't work harder, the other softball team will bury us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was buried under ash and volcanic glass during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and, since the 1700s, archaeologists have been unearthing the city that’s been frozen in time in a large, ongoing excavation. —

Amarachi Orie, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025 The Frasers find out that Jane has been buried in an unmarked grave in a pauper’s field, news that devastates Frances. —

Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Jan. 2025 A week later, Mack was buried in a small cemetery near York, S.C., the only plot Barbara Rippy could find on short notice. —

Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025 She was buried in an unmarked grave in a segregated cemetery. —

Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for bury

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bury

Verb

The gravestones are numbered to reflect the burial system that was developed to properly inter hundreds of victims whose bodies were never claimed or identified.

— Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2024
Although interred as an Unknown in MACM, Hansen’s grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

— Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024