thinly disguised

USAGE SUMMARY

"thinly disguised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that appears to be one thing but is actually something else. For example, "His personal attack was thinly disguised as a constructive criticism."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But her contempt is thinly disguised.

The Economist

In To Kill a Mockingbird, thinly disguised autobiographical elements abound.

Independent

Under Mr Aliev, it is a thinly disguised autocracy.

The Economist

The Greek government's reaction was one of thinly disguised jubilation.

The Guardian

EU officials reacted to the news with thinly disguised comfort.

The Guardian

Placed between husband and wife, it's a thinly disguised prophylactic.

The New York Times - Arts

He described such programs as thinly disguised marketing.

The New York Times

"That's tight, dude," Andrew says with thinly disguised awe.

The New York Times - Magazine

Martin Van Buren is thinly disguised as "Lord Vandyke Maneuvre".

The New Yorker

Dr. Sams also wrote thinly disguised stories about his life as a physician.

The New York Times - Books

Postwar American science fiction is overflowing with thinly disguised freak-outs about Communism and nuclear Armageddon.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thinly disguised" to add nuance when describing something that is superficially presented as one thing but clearly represents something else. For example, "The company's environmental initiatives were a thinly disguised attempt to improve its public image."

Common error

Avoid using "thinly disguised" repeatedly in your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "poorly concealed" or "barely veiled" to keep your writing fresh and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinly disguised" functions as an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that something is superficially altered or concealed, but its true nature remains apparent. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in describing various scenarios, such as "thinly disguised contempt" or "thinly disguised marketing".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thinly disguised" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe something that is superficially altered or concealed, yet its true nature remains evident. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, writers should aim for precision, ensuring the context clearly illustrates the superficial nature of the disguise. While useful for adding nuance and skepticism, overuse should be avoided by incorporating alternatives like "poorly concealed" or "barely veiled". Its presence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and appropriateness in analytical and critical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly concealed

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of the concealment.

barely veiled

Emphasizes the slightness of the covering or disguise.

scarcely hidden

Highlights the minimal effort to hide something.

ill-concealed

Similar to 'poorly concealed' but with a slightly more formal tone.

faintly masked

Suggests the disguise is weak and easily seen through.

lightly covered

Emphasizes the superficial nature of the covering.

weakly cloaked

Indicates the disguise is fragile and ineffective.

superficially disguised

Highlights that the disguise is only on the surface.

transparently feigned

Focuses on the obvious insincerity of the pretense.

poorly feigned

Highlights the obvious insincerity of the pretense.

FAQs

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

You can use "thinly disguised" to describe something that is presented as one thing but is clearly another. For instance, "His apology was a "thinly disguised" insult."

What are some alternatives to "thinly disguised"?

Alternatives include "poorly concealed", "barely veiled", or "scarcely hidden", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "thinly disguised" or "poorly disguised"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "thinly disguised" suggests a superficial attempt at concealment, while "poorly disguised" simply means the disguise is not effective.

What does it mean when something is "thinly disguised"?

It means that something is not effectively hidden or concealed; the true nature of it is still apparent despite the attempt to disguise it. You can use alternatives like "transparently feigned" depending on the context.