expose

verb

ik-ˈspōz How to pronounce expose (audio)
Definition of exposenext
1
as in to uncover
to reveal the true nature of a well-researched article that exposes the UFO story as a hoax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reveal
to make known (as information previously kept secret) the documentary claims to expose how winners of beauty pageants are really picked

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to display
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs the tight race for the championship exposed one team's mean streak

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to show
to present so as to invite notice or attention I didn't want to expose my ignorance in front of the others, so I kept silent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word expose different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of expose are display, exhibit, flaunt, parade, and show. While all these words mean "to present so as to invite notice or attention," expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

When can display be used instead of expose?

While the synonyms display and expose are close in meaning, display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

In what contexts can exhibit take the place of expose?

The synonyms exhibit and expose are sometimes interchangeable, but exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

Where would flaunt be a reasonable alternative to expose?

While in some cases nearly identical to expose, flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

When is it sensible to use parade instead of expose?

Although the words parade and expose have much in common, parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

When is show a more appropriate choice than expose?

In some situations, the words show and expose are roughly equivalent. However, show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

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 expose As fun or relaxing as a friends’ trip might sound, traveling together has a funny way of testing your patience—and frankly, exposing every little crack in the relationship. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Apr. 2025 Two officers were exposed to an airborne powder during the incident and were treated at a hospital for possible fentanyl exposure. —Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 Millions of Verizon customers may have been at risk of having their call histories exposed through a security flaw in the company's Call Filter app, according to a new report by ethical hacker Evan Connelly. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 Bald Cypress Botanical Name: Taxodium distichum Sun Exposure: Full Soil Type: Moist Soil pH: Mildly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0) Bald cypress' feathery leaves turn a beautiful russet red in fall before dropping and exposing the reddish-brown bark. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expose
  1. uncover
  2. reveal
  3. display
  4. show
  5. disclose
  6. exhibit
  7. discover
  8. unveil
Verb
  • The scene in Richard Donner's 1985 adventure comedy The Goonies in which the ragtag group of child explorers finally uncover the mythic pirate ship is one of the film's most unforgettable.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The researchers plan to investigate about 10,000 square meters (over 100,000 square feet) more of the area’s desert terrain in an effort to uncover additional tombs, Wegner said.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of uncover
Verb
  • For example, the podcast didn’t reveal that Kochan was assaulted as a child by her mother’s boyfriend until the end, whereas the TV series introduces that information early on.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Tim Plowman and Jim Duke would famously reveal coca to be both benign and chock-full of vital nutrients, but their nutritional study came a generation too late to inform the bureaucratic and political process that led to the criminalization of the plant.
    — Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of reveal
Verb
  • Dedicated to the suspension of time, the booth displayed vignettes portraying urban landscapes, creating a sense of calmness in a dynamic setting.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
  • All were displayed in an austere room designed for examining art works—an oddly formal space for an encounter with one’s past.
    — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of display
Verb
  • Monday's filing showed the investigations began April 1 and the tariffs would be imposed under the authority of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which grants the president such power to protect national security.
    — John Bacon, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Video surveillance of the incident shows that the suspect climbed over a fence before breaking into the governor’s home through the piano room windows and throwing in an incendiary device, according to the affidavit.
    — Solcyré Burga, Time, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of show
Verb
  • Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has taken over the role, though the change was not publicly disclosed until recently.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Some institutions have shared publicly that students have lost visas but many colleges and universities have yet to disclose the exact number.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of disclose
Verb
  • Satellite imagery published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) exhibits some of the U.S.' major waterways overwhelmed following a multi-day deluge of rain that lashed parts of the Midwest and South last week.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • These areas are exhibiting some growth, particularly class A spaces, as leasing agents overall are seeing a gravitation toward newer construction and modern amenities.
    — Sam Sidhu, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of exhibit
Verb
  • It is mounted in a ring by JAR, and ranks among the rarest and most important diamonds ever discovered.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Villegas arrived at his property to discover that small furniture from around the house had been relocated to the garage, and some items were missing entirely.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of discover
Verb
  • The Cannes Film Festival will reveal the bulk of its Official Selection in a press conference in Paris on Thursday, while Directors’ Fortnight will unveil its line-up on April 15.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2025
  • As if on schedule, brands from across the internet have begun unveiling new loafer styles — and slashing prices on fan favorites — just in time for the season.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of unveil

Browse Nearby Words

expos
expose
exposed
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Cite this Entry

“Expose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expose. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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