scarcely veiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely veiled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is only slightly hidden or not fully concealed, often referring to emotions, intentions, or truths that are apparent despite attempts to disguise them. Example: "Her disdain for the decision was scarcely veiled, evident in her tone and body language during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Scarcely veiled threats from America to cancel Russia's G8 status over the gas dispute sent the Kremlin into a tizzy.

The Guardian

Since the 1960s, American conservatism's national electoral strategy has hinged, in no small part, on leveraging white southerners from Democrats with scarcely veiled racial messages.

The Guardian - Opinion

SEX -- Cheap, instant and frequent, but clothed, off-camera (after some salacious preliminaries, that is) and ducked in true, scarcely veiled PG-13 fashion.

The New York Times

Finally, there is the United States, that indispensable nation which seems ever less dispensable in Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and the Arab world, with the country's military leaders ruefully aware of overstretch, and its long-term fiscal mismanagement scarcely veiled by its overprinting of dollars.

The New York Times

Even if the 77-year-old Mr. Kim's political allies are not willing to completely write him off yet, for many who follow this country's rough and tumble politics, the president's stunning descent, to 25percentt approval ratings and scarcely veiled challenges within his own party, has been a breathtaking thing to watch.

The New York Times

In short, freedom is often a scarcely veiled nihilism.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Piety barely veils eroticism.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Merkel had sent a signal about the partial ban on face veils on Thursday, when she told a group of provincial newspapers that "from my standpoint, a fully veiled woman scarcely has a chance at full integration in Germany".

The New York Times

The eyelids were deep, but without any languor or drowsiness, and had the peculiarity of seeming scarcely to veil the light in her eyes when she was looking down".

The Guardian - Arts

The attitudes of the great powers, however, have with few exceptions, ranged between scepticism and scarcely-veiled hostility.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Women are veiled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely veiled" to subtly imply that something is not fully hidden, such as intentions or emotions. It adds a layer of sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely veiled" when you mean something is completely obvious or entirely hidden. The phrase indicates a partial, but noticeable, attempt at concealment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely veiled" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the degree to which something is concealed or hidden. It suggests a partial concealment, as seen in Ludwig's examples where it modifies threats, racial messages, and criticism.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarcely veiled" is an adjectival phrase used to describe something that is only partially hidden or disguised. As Ludwig AI underlines, it is grammatically correct and appears primarily in news media and encyclopedias, lending itself to a neutral and somewhat formal tone. While not exceedingly common, the phrase serves to imply a lack of complete concealment, suggesting that the underlying truth or intention is still perceptible. When using the phrase, ensure that you are conveying the intended meaning of partial, rather than complete, concealment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely concealed

A direct synonym, maintaining the same level of concealment.

barely concealed

Emphasizes the minimal effort in hiding something, similar to "scarcely veiled".

thinly disguised

Focuses on the inadequate alteration of something's appearance to conceal its true nature.

poorly concealed

Highlights the ineffectiveness of the concealment.

lightly masked

Indicates that something is covered, but not thoroughly.

weakly disguised

Similar to thinly disguised but emphasizing the lack of strength in the disguise.

faintly hidden

Emphasizes the slight degree to which something is concealed.

barely perceptible

Shifts focus to the almost undetectable nature of something.

ill-concealed

Highlights the lack of success in hiding something.

transparently obvious

Implies the thing being hidden is extremely easy to see through.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely veiled" in a sentence?

You can use "scarcely veiled" to describe intentions, emotions, or truths that are apparent despite attempts to disguise them. For example, "Her disappointment was "scarcely veiled", evident in her curt responses".

What's a good alternative to "scarcely veiled"?

Alternatives include "barely concealed", "thinly disguised", or "poorly concealed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scarcely veiled" formal or informal?

"Scarcely veiled" leans towards a more formal register, suitable for news articles, academic papers, and professional communications. You might avoid it in very casual conversations.

What does "scarcely veiled" imply about the attempt to hide something?

It implies that there was an attempt to hide something, but the attempt was not very successful. The underlying thing is still noticeable or apparent, though not completely exposed.