poorly disguised

USAGE SUMMARY

"poorly disguised" is a valid phrase and can be used in written English.
It is often used to mean something that is not hidden or disguised very well. For example, "The cat was poorly disguised as a sofa pillow, but the dog still noticed him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"Eats, Shoots & Leaves" is really a "decline of print culture" book disguised as a style manual (poorly disguised).

The New Yorker

They may see the interruption as a staff member's poorly disguised attempt to recruit clients for personal training sessions.

The New York Times - Health

That would be a genuine attempt to incentivise and reward European talent rather than a poorly disguised publicity stunt.

The Guardian - Sport

That was tame, however, compared with his poorly disguised impression of a wolverine about 11 minutes later.

The New York Times - Sports

Public school officials view the tax credits as poorly disguised state subsidies, part of an expanding agenda to shift tax dollars away from traditional public schools.

The New York Times

The sorry Pasanen, a centre-half poorly disguised as a full-back, had blocked the ball into the path of Henry for the opener after 25 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

"Now, I'm moving in with my boyfriend, and he's an accountant!" "That's great!" I replied, poorly disguising my pity.

Huffington Post

Two wonderful strikes have disguised how poorly Argentina have played; a case could be made for saying that they have disguised the fact that Messi has not yet been dominant either.

The Guardian - Sport

We heard from women who said they had visited Clifford in his office, then been sent out to receive calls purportedly from James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli, or Bronson, or Dynasty producer Aaron Spelling – all of whom appeared to be a poorly-disguised Clifford.

The Guardian

It said: "They involve poorly-disguised attacks on the legitimate planning judgements and findings reached".

BBC

He also raised detailed questions about Shirley's war-related expenditures, which he (and later historians) concluded was poorly-disguised patronage spending.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "poorly disguised" to describe attempts at concealment or deception that are easily seen through. This phrase adds a layer of judgment about the quality of the disguise.

Common error

Avoid using "very poorly disguised", as the 'very' is often redundant. "Poorly" already implies a significant lack of quality in the disguise. Opt for a more nuanced adjective like 'obviously' or 'transparently' if you need stronger emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly disguised" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier. It describes the quality of a disguise, indicating that it is ineffective or inadequate. Ludwig shows its descriptive use in various contexts, emphasizing the lack of successful concealment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poorly disguised" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing something that isn't well hidden or concealed. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news and media, indicating a neutral formality level. The phrase serves to communicate ineffectiveness and obviousness in attempts at concealment, often implying a critical judgment. Consider alternatives like "barely concealed" or "thinly veiled" to adjust the nuance, and avoid redundancy such as "very poorly disguised" for clearer and more impactful writing. As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase is valid and suitable for use in a variety of written contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly concealed

A direct synonym, focusing on the inadequate nature of the concealment.

hardly disguised

Very close in meaning, emphasizing the lack of effective disguise.

ill-disguised

A more formal alternative conveying the same meaning of inadequate disguise.

thinly veiled

Emphasizes the lack of effective concealment, similar to "poorly disguised", but focuses on the superficial nature of the attempt to hide something.

barely concealed

Highlights that the concealment is minimal, almost nonexistent, akin to "poorly disguised".

weakly masked

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of the attempt to cover up or hide something, comparable to "poorly disguised".

scarcely hidden

Indicates that something is hardly hidden at all, resembling "poorly disguised" in meaning.

transparently obvious

Highlights the easiness with which something can be seen through, similar to something "poorly disguised".

crudely concealed

Suggests that the method of concealment is unsophisticated and ineffective, much like "poorly disguised".

flimsily covered

Emphasizes the weakness of the covering or disguise, similar to "poorly disguised" in its lack of effectiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "poorly disguised" in a sentence?

You can use "poorly disguised" to describe something that is not hidden or concealed very well. For example, "His attempt to feign illness was a "poorly disguised" effort to avoid the meeting."

What are some synonyms for "poorly disguised"?

Some alternatives to "poorly disguised" include "barely concealed", "thinly veiled", or "weakly masked".

Is it correct to say "very poorly disguised"?

While grammatically correct, "very poorly disguised" can be redundant. Consider using alternatives like "obviously disguised" or "transparently disguised" for added emphasis.

What's the difference between "poorly disguised" and "well disguised"?

"Poorly disguised" means something is not hidden effectively, while "well disguised" implies the opposite – that something is hidden effectively. For example, "The spy was "poorly disguised" as a tourist" versus "The spy was well disguised as a businessman."