false face

Halloween costume piece

A false face is a mask, especially one worn for disguise or ceremonial purposes.

More broadly, it describes a deceptive appearance or manner—a front someone puts on to hide their true nature or intentions: She saw through his false face of friendliness.

The term suggests deliberate concealment rather than mere politeness.

deception

mask

Face-worn concealment

pretenseDeceptive outward show
facadeDeceptive outward appearance
guileSly, strategic dishonesty

duplicity · deceit · impostor · phony · sham · disguise · dissemble · feign · persona · front

ceremonial

Iroquois

Native American confederacy

ritualCeremonial set of actions
sacredWorthy of reverence
healingRestoration of health

wooden · carved · longhouse · ceremony · cornhusk · tobacco · spiritual · ancestral · transformation · clan

Categories

masksceremonial masks, surgical mask, N95, ski mask, gas mask
masks & disguisesdisguise, masquerade, veil, social mask, tragic mask
Treachery SymbolsJudas, Brutus, Judas kiss, kiss of Judas, silver coins
HaudenosauneeMohawk Nation, Cayuga, Onondaga, Mohawk, Seneca
facadesfacade, curtain walls, front, glass facades, frontage

Opposites

authenticity

false faceauthentic self

One's genuine identity

true self · open book · true colors · naked truth · transparency

physical covering

false facebare face

emotional expression

false facegenuine smile

Authentic expression of happiness

Family

false, face, falsely, falseness, falsity, falsify, falsification, falsifier, falsified

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G