cover-up
Hiding the truth
A cover-up is a deliberate effort to conceal wrongdoing, mistakes, or embarrassing information: The scandal wasn't as damaging as the cover-up that followed.
The term often appears in political contexts, where the attempt to hide misconduct frequently proves worse than the original offense.
As a verb, cover up means to conceal: They tried to cover up the evidence.
1970s political crisis
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
indictment · collusion · leak · inquiry · embezzlement · bribery · fraud · obstruction
Conceal or pelt
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- maskFace-worn concealment
- shroudBurial cloth or covering
- veilFabric that obscures
cloak · disguise · suppress · whitewash · obscure · smokescreen · hush up · paper over
Deliberate untruths
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
sham · disinformation · manipulation · subterfuge · pretense · alibi · distortion · spin
Long loose outer garment
- sarongWraparound waist garment
- kaftanLong loose traditional robe
- ponchoHeadhole garment for rain
- wrapEnclose by winding around
kimono · caftan · tunic · poolside · sheer · mesh · sundress · rashguard
Cosmetic for hiding flaws
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
- scarPermanent mark from healing
tattoo · bruise · imperfection · camouflage · corrector · pigment · discoloration · birthmark
Watergate
1970s political crisis
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- investigationFormal examination of facts
testimony · indictment · collusion · leak · inquiry · embezzlement · bribery · fraud · obstruction · hush money
hide
Conceal or pelt
veil · cloak · disguise · suppress · whitewash · obscure · smokescreen · hush up · paper over · bury
lies
Deliberate untruths
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
misrepresentation · sham · disinformation · manipulation · subterfuge · pretense · alibi · distortion · spin · deflection
robe
Long loose outer garment
wrap · kimono · caftan · tunic · poolside · sheer · mesh · sundress · rashguard · pareo
concealer
Cosmetic for hiding flaws
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
scar · tattoo · bruise · imperfection · camouflage · corrector · pigment · discoloration · birthmark
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- censorshipbanned books, censored, banned, book banning, book bans
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- military scandalsAbu Ghraib, Iran-Contra, Pentagon Papers, torture, prisoner abuse
- Political Corruptionbribery, graft, kickbacks, cronyism, nepotism
- scandalsscandal, controversy, disgrace, misconduct, expose
cover-upexposé
Investigative journalism piece
exposure · revelation · disclosure · expose · uncovering
cover-upcandor
Unguarded truthfulness
honesty · transparency · truthfulness · openness · forthrightness
cover-upadmission of guilt
Acknowledging one's culpability
confession · accountability · mea culpa · taking responsibility · coming clean