uncover
Remove the veil
To uncover is to remove a covering from something, revealing what lies beneath: She uncovered the dish to let it cool.
More often figurative—to uncover the truth, uncover a conspiracy, uncover evidence of fraud.
Investigators uncover wrongdoing; archaeologists uncover ruins.
The word emphasizes discovery of something hidden or concealed.
Excavate or reveal hidden
- exhumeUnbury the dead
- dig upUncover from underground
- excavateRemove earth systematically
- disinterUnbury the dead
expose · archaeology · fossils · artifacts · treasure · relics · ruins · buried
Notice or discover
- findLocate through effort
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- probeThorough examination or tool
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
delve · examine · scrutinize · inspect · forensics · clues · evidence · deduce
Reveal something hidden
- unmaskReveal true identity
- exposeMake known publicly
- discloseReveal hidden information
- revealMake something visible
bare · unfurl · unfold · unravel · lay bare · bring to light · show · display
Confess or grant entry
- confessAcknowledge wrongdoing openly
- divulgeReveal private information
- discloseReveal hidden information
- acknowledgeConfirm receipt or truth
concede · avow · confide · come clean · own up · spill · betray · tell all
Disgraceful public affair
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- leakEscape through a breach
- journalismNews gathering and dissemination
- muckrakingInvestigative reporting on corruption
corruption · wrongdoing · coverup · conspiracy · secrets · truth · hidden · concealed
unearth
Excavate or reveal hidden
disinter · expose · archaeology · fossils · artifacts · treasure · relics · ruins · buried · tombs
detect
Notice or discover
research · delve · examine · scrutinize · inspect · forensics · clues · evidence · deduce · trace
unveil
Reveal something hidden
reveal · bare · unfurl · unfold · unravel · lay bare · bring to light · show · display · strip away
admit
Confess or grant entry
- confessAcknowledge wrongdoing openly
- divulgeReveal private information
- discloseReveal hidden information
acknowledge · concede · avow · confide · come clean · own up · spill · betray · tell all · revelation
scandal
Disgraceful public affair
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- leakEscape through a breach
- journalismNews gathering and dissemination
muckraking · corruption · wrongdoing · coverup · conspiracy · secrets · truth · hidden · concealed · suppressed