surreptitious

adjective

ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs How to pronounce surreptitious (audio)
Definition of surreptitiousnext
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a private investigator adept at taking surreptitious pictures of adulterous couples

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word surreptitious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of surreptitious are clandestine, covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," 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 clandestine be a good substitute for surreptitious?

The synonyms clandestine and surreptitious are sometimes interchangeable, 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

In what contexts can covert take the place of surreptitious?

While the synonyms covert and surreptitious are close in meaning, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When might furtive be a better fit than surreptitious?

While in some cases nearly identical to surreptitious, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

Where would secret be a reasonable alternative to surreptitious?

The meanings of secret and surreptitious largely overlap; however, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When could stealthy be used to replace surreptitious?

The words stealthy and surreptitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is underhanded a more appropriate choice than surreptitious?

The words underhanded and surreptitious can be used in similar contexts, but 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 surreptitious However, when intentions are left surreptitious, fashion can be used as a political weapon. —Chloe Iris Kennedy, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The center, which opened in 2022, is responsible for deciphering, and defeating, surreptitious efforts to rig or tilt the American vote. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 Prince cites a conversation with Atlantic CEO (and former WIRED editor in chief) Nick Thompson as inspiration for the project; Thompson had discussed how many different publishers had encountered surreptitious web scrapers. —Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 23 Sep. 2024 And there are plenty of other athletes who have sought to gain a slight edge, surreptitious or otherwise, through their own ingenuity. —Susan Baek, NBC News, 9 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for surreptitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surreptitious
  1. clandestine
  2. covert
  3. undercover
  4. underground
  5. private
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The plant spreads through underground rhizomes but can be propagated by seeds, stem cuttings, or divisions.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 June 2025
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • Back in August 1993, an eight-year-old Harry, along with his older brother Prince William, then 11, enjoyed a private visit to Walt Disney World in Florida with Princess Diana.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • Redstone kept her diagnosis private, sharing it with only a tight circle of relatives, close friends, and advisers including David Ellison, the Skydance head and tech heir, whose company is set to purchase Paramount and the Redstone family’s stake, NYT added.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 6 June 2025
Definition of private

Browse Nearby Words

surrender (to)
surreptitious
surreptitiously
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of surreptitious for Spanish Speakers

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