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View synonyms for expose

expose

1

[ ik-spohz ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·posed, ex·pos·ing.
  1. to lay open to danger, attack, harm, etc.:

    to expose soldiers to gunfire;

    to expose one's character to attack.

    Synonyms: jeopardize, imperil, endanger, subject

  2. to lay open to something specified:

    to expose oneself to the influence of bad companions.

    Antonyms: shield, protect

  3. to uncover or bare to the air, cold, etc.:

    to expose one's head to the rain.

  4. to present to view; exhibit; display:

    The storekeeper exposed his wares.

  5. to make known, disclose, or reveal (intentions, secrets, etc.).

    Synonyms: betray, unveil, uncover

    Antonyms: hide, conceal

  6. to reveal or unmask (a crime, fraud, impostor, etc.):

    to expose a swindler.

  7. to hold up to public reprehension or ridicule (fault, folly, a foolish act or person, etc.).
  8. to desert in an unsheltered or open place; abandon, as a child.
  9. to subject, as to the action of something:

    to expose a photographic plate to light.



exposé

2

[ ek-spoh-zey ]

noun

  1. a public exposure or revelation, as of something discreditable:

    Certain cheap magazines make a fortune out of sensational exposés.

expose

1

/ ɪkˈspəʊz /

verb

  1. to display for viewing; exhibit
  2. to bring to public notice; disclose; reveal

    to expose the facts

  3. to divulge the identity of; unmask
  4. foll by to to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc)
  5. to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die
  6. foll by to to introduce (to) or acquaint (with)

    he was exposed to the classics at an early age

  7. photog to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation
  8. RC Church to exhibit (the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic) for public veneration
  9. expose oneself
    expose oneself to display one's sexual organs in public


exposé

2

/ ɛksˈpəʊzeɪ /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc, to public notice
  2. an article, book, or statement that discloses a scandal, crime, etc

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Derived Forms

  • exˈposer, noun
  • exˈposable, adjective
  • exˈposal, noun

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Other Words From

  • ex·posa·ble adjective
  • ex·posa·bili·ty noun
  • ex·poser noun
  • self-ex·posing adjective
  • unex·posa·ble adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of expose1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English exposen, from Old French exposer, equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + poser “to put” ( pose 1 ), replacing Latin expōnere “to put out, expose, set forth in words”; expound

Origin of expose2

First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, noun use of past participle of exposer expose

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Word History and Origins

Origin of expose1

C15: from Old French exposer, from Latin expōnere to set out; see exponent

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. expose oneself, to exhibit one's body, especially one's genitals, publicly in an immodest or exhibitionistic manner.

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Example Sentences

In 2005, the tabloid was set to publish an exposé on Cosby, featuring allegations from new self-described Cosby victims.

Instead, he traveled incognito in track pants and a baseball cap to hide his identity, according to a New York Times exposé.

Simmons has perfected what you might call the exposé-as-apologia.

The monologist best known for concocting parts of his Apple exposé named his new play ‘Yes All Women.’

Unlike Baldwin, Jonas managed an endearing exposé without throwing any friends or colleagues under the bus.

I consider that the public ought to feel very much indebted to me for this exposé.

News of the forthcoming exposé spread mysteriously in "The Bottoms" before the paper was off the press.

The briefest exposé of all the errors of the Bible would require a larger volume than the Bible itself.

From one of them, such an exposé would mean downright malice, or mischief, and be understood as such.

Mrs. Underhill remained quietly in the country many weeks after the exposé, safe from the keen inquisition of reporters.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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