clandestine

adjective

klan-ˈde-stən How to pronounce clandestine (audio)
Definition of clandestinenext
as in undercover
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word clandestine distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of clandestine are covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

When is it sensible to use covert instead of clandestine?

The words covert and clandestine can be used in similar contexts, but covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When might furtive be a better fit than clandestine?

While the synonyms furtive and clandestine are close in meaning, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

Where would secret be a reasonable alternative to clandestine?

In some situations, the words secret and clandestine are roughly equivalent. However, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When can stealthy be used instead of clandestine?

Although the words stealthy and clandestine have much in common, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is surreptitious a more appropriate choice than clandestine?

The meanings of surreptitious and clandestine largely overlap; however, surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

When could underhanded be used to replace clandestine?

While in some cases nearly identical to clandestine, underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clandestine Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, jailed Thursday on racketeering charges, must post a $1 million bond to be released, a judge ruled Friday, as new details emerged about a clandestine Kissimmee casino prosecutors said the lawman secretly helped run. —Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025 After paying private equity tycoon Jack McGinley $52 million in a clandestine off-market deal for the Georgian-style spread, which was designed by architect Don Nulty and built in 2009 for 9-1-1: Lone Star actor Rob Lowe, Levine and Prinsloo have put the place back on the market for $65 million. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 July 2025 Built to listen for clandestine nuclear bomb blasts, the globe-spanning system detects low-frequency acoustic-gravity waves. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 July 2025 Jimmy, boyish and cocky as ever, proves a real asset thanks to his clandestine connection with Lex’s fashionista, selfie-snapping girlfriend Eve (Sara Sampaio). —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for clandestine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clandestine
  1. undercover
  2. covert
  3. underground
  4. private
  5. surreptitious
Adjective
  • At the beginning of the season, host Alan Cumming picks the Traitors that will pit the Faithful against each other by murdering them one by one while trying to remain undercover.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 22 July 2025
  • Ogles cited an undercover video obtained by conservative news website Townhall which appears to show a university employee discussing the school’s Office of Hope, Unity, and Belonging.
    — Ruben Montoya, The Tennessean, 19 July 2025
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • The bill would ban face coverings during public enforcement operations unless medically required or part of a covert investigation.
    — Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
  • The human touch is also crucial for ensuring accountability with agentic AI use, particularly for security considerations like accountability and distinguishing a genuine user from a covert threat.
    — Imran Aftab, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • His villa had a pool, a gym, appliances and a game room, and his underground bunker had a bed, a refrigerator and air conditioning, according to the feds.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
  • For example, a criminal group known as Scattered Spider recently attacked famed British retailer Marks & Spencer, allegedly using solutions purchased on underground forums.
    — Damon Fleury, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • Spelman will be cremated in a private ceremony Thursday, his family said.
    — Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • In the social media post, the private university in La Crosse said the public can help by joining the search and sharing posts on social media.
    — Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Definition of private
Adjective
  • In the course of that surreptitious mission, Meachum (played by Jensen Ackles) stumbled into a heated hand-to-hand fight inside the consulate’s security station, where all sorts of limbs were thrown, much furniture broken.
    — Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 16 July 2025
  • In the evenings, Vincent embarks on a surreptitious love affair with Arthur, a soldier on leave — who's also the son of Vincent's governess.
    — Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of surreptitious

Browse Nearby Words

clan
clandestine
clandestinely
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Cite this Entry

“Clandestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clandestine. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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