stealthy

adjective

ˈstel-thē How to pronounce stealthy (audio)
Definition of stealthynext
1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions cats are among the stealthiest of stalkers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others constantly harassed the enemy with stealthy raids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stealthy distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stealthy are clandestine, covert, furtive, secret, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is it sensible to use clandestine instead of stealthy?

The words clandestine and stealthy can be used in similar contexts, but 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 might covert be a better fit than stealthy?

The meanings of covert and stealthy largely overlap; however, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When could furtive be used to replace stealthy?

In some situations, the words furtive and stealthy are roughly equivalent. However, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

When can secret be used instead of stealthy?

Although the words secret and stealthy have much in common, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When is surreptitious a more appropriate choice than stealthy?

The synonyms surreptitious and stealthy are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 would underhanded be a good substitute for stealthy?

The words underhanded and stealthy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 stealthy While most animals will flee human presence, alligators are stealthy. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 Blackbird and Void are stealthier types, with the former taking on recon duties to reveal enemy locations and the latter capable of turning invisible and shrouding the squad in smoke. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025 As all the attention is being paid to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies that create international chaos and whip global markets into a frenzy, a stealthy change has emerged. —Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 The United States must therefore pair initiatives to produce cheap drones with ones aimed at making survivable and reusable airpower, especially stealthy planes. —Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stealthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stealthy
  1. shady
  2. clandestine
  3. sneaky
  4. furtive
  5. covert
  6. sly
  7. undercover
  8. underground
Adjective
  • Patti LuPone had a shady reaction to questions about Audra McDonald in a new interview.
    — Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 27 May 2025
  • John Frankenheimer’s gritty heist flick is packed with shifting loyalties, shady motives and not one, but two, figure-skating set pieces.
    — Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • Syria under Assad is believed to have operated an extensive clandestine nuclear program, which included an undeclared nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 June 2025
  • The only way to pre-empt detection by these IAEA watchdogs would be for Ukraine to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and expel the atomic inspectors, but those moves would amount to trumpeting Kyiv’s clandestine quest to develop a nuclear warhead.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • That can be achieved with stylish patio furniture finds, including seating options, dining sets, and sneaky storage solutions.
    — Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 28 May 2025
  • He is also sneaky fast, especially for a big guy (listed at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds) with a big lower body.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025
Definition of sneaky
Adjective
  • In this setting, the episode shifts between covert conversations, furtive looks, confrontations behind doors, and everything in between.
    — Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Asked by the newspaper’s lawyers to explain how the furtive system worked, Mr. Frankel typed up a 14-page memo.
    — David W. Dunlap, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of furtive
Adjective
  • Striking Iran’s nuclear program would likely set off a much larger conflict in which Israel and the United States hunt for covert Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran retaliates in the Middle East and beyond.
    — Richard Nephew, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2025
  • Mon Mothma's speech Mon Mothma's covert support of the Rebels becomes public following the devastating events of the Ghorman Massacre.
    — Nick Romano, EW.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • Last week's finale, featuring host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Bad Bunny, was packed with sly jokes hinting at big changes to the show's cast.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 25 May 2025
  • Trier and his longtime co-writer Eskil Vogt draw us in quickly to the family dynamic, establishing the sly ripples of humor that run through even the darker scenes.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Definition of sly
Adjective
  • So is this mystery novel secretly the story of The Gilded Age and is this an undercover crossover?
    — Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 June 2025
  • The missing money controlled by Velazquez was supposed to go toward undercover narcotics operations.
    — Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • Autonomous trams and underground trains operate in many European countries, and a variety of transportation vehicles move autonomously in closed environments such as factories and ports.
    — Forrester, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • There's also Hôtel du Couvent, a 17th-century convent that underwent a $100 million renovation and features medieval-modern accommodations, along with a large underground spa.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2025
Definition of underground

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stealthiness
stealthy
steam
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Cite this Entry

“Stealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stealthy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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