smokescreen
smokescreen Lexical Profile
smokescreen Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A ruse, pretext, or deceptive action designed to disguise someone's real intentions or divert attention from an embarrassing or controversial matter.
"Critics argued that the sudden reorganization of the department was merely a smokescreen to hide the company's declining profits."
A dense cloud of artificial smoke released to conceal the movement or location of military units, ships, or vehicles.
"The rescue vessels deployed a thick smokescreen to obscure their approach along the coast."
• verb
To conceal, obscure, or disguise (an action, fact, or motive) using a smokescreen or deceptive pretext.
"The administration attempted to smokescreen the budget deficit by announcing a series of minor tax incentives."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century, originally as a naval warfare term referring to artificial clouds of smoke generated by ships to conceal fleet movements from enemy vessels.