unmasked

/ʌnˈmɑːsk/ (bre, ipa) · [ənmˈæskt] /ʌnˈmæsk/ (ame, ipa)

unmasked — verb

  • unmaskedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unmaskeds3rd person singular
  • unmaskeding-ing form
  • unmaskededpast simple

1. to make known someone's hidden dishonesty, crime, or shameful secret, so that ot

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make known someone's hidden dishonesty, crime, or shameful secret, so that others can no longer be fooled by them.

例句

Ryan's investigative report unmasked the city council member as the person who had accepted bribes.

pattern: unmask [someone] as [hidden truth]

The leaked emails unmasked a secret deal between the mining company and government officials.

同義詞
  • expose

    more general; can apply to revealing any secret or wrongdoing, not necessarily someone's hidden identity

  • uncover

    focuses on discovering something hidden, but does not always imply deliberate deception

  • reveal

    neutral tone; can be about both positive and negative discoveries, whereas 'unmask' is always about negative hidden truth

反義詞
  • conceal

    to keep something hidden on purpose

  • cover up

    to hide wrongdoing or embarrassing facts, often by deliberate effort

文法句型

unmask + person/thing

unmask + person/thing + as + noun

be unmasked + as + noun

be unmasked + by + agent

用法筆記

Most often used in the pattern 'unmask [someone] as [something negative]'. The subject is typically an investigation, journalist, leaked document, or piece of evidence that reveals a deception.

常見錯誤

❌The detective unmasked the thief from behind the door.
✅The detective unmasked the thief as the person who had been stealing from the office.
💡'unmask' in this sense means to reveal someone's hidden identity or bad actions, not to physically find where someone is hiding.
❌She unmasked her true feelings to him.
✅She was unmasked as someone who had lied about her past.
💡The figurative sense of 'unmask' is about exposing deceit, not about honestly sharing emotions.

2. to take off a physical face covering, such as a protective or medical mask, a di

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to take off a physical face covering, such as a protective or medical mask, a disguise, or part of a costume.

例句

Kasia carefully unmasked after the operation and placed her surgical mask in the bin.

intransitive with manner adverb: carefully unmask

Rania and her cousin laughed as they unmasked each other at the end of the party.

reciprocal: unmask each other

同義詞
  • remove

    general term; not specific to masks, requires an object ('remove a mask')

  • take off

    informal and very common; can apply to any clothing or accessory, not just masks

反義詞
  • put on

    the opposite action of placing a mask onto one's face

  • mask

    to cover the face with a mask

文法句型

unmask + object

unmask (intransitive)

unmasked each other

用法筆記

When used intransitively ('He unmasked'), the subject removes their own mask. When used transitively ('She unmasked him'), the subject removes another person's mask. The reciprocal form 'unmask each other' is common in costume-party settings.

常見錯誤

❌The journalist unmasked the politician by publishing the story.' (when the literal, physical mask sense is intended)
✅The journalist unmasked the politician as a liar.
💡For revealing hidden truth, use sense 1. Sense 2 is only about physically removing a face covering.
❌She unmasked her face before the doctor.
✅She unmasked before the doctor examined her.
💡'unmask' already means removing the covering from one's face; adding 'her face' is redundant.