masquerade
[noun]
Synonyms:
- masked ball, fancy dress party, revel
- pretence, cloak, cover-up, deception, disguise, mask, pose, screen, subterfuge
[verb]
Synonyms:
- pose, disguise, dissemble, dissimulate, impersonate, pass oneself off, pretend (to be)

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. mas‧que‧rade¹ /ˌmæskəˈreɪd/ noun
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Old Italian mascarada, from maschera; ⇒ mask¹]

1. [countable] a formal dance or party where people wear masks and unusual clothes

2. [uncountable and countable] a way of behaving or speaking that hides your true thoughts or feelings Synonym : pretence:
She didn’t really love him, but she kept up the masquerade for the children’s sake.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. masquerade² verb [intransitive]
to pretend to be something or someone different
masquerade as
A number of police officers masqueraded as demonstrators.
Some of these breakfast foods are just candy masquerading as cereals.
masquerade under
He was masquerading under a false name.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲