as in confidential
kept completely hidden from the public by high government officials
top secret documents The mission is top secret.
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Recent Examples of top secret
Even hiring for jobs requiring top secret clearances will be expedited, the plan said.
—
ArsTechnica, 2 June 2025
What To Know In mid-January, Asif Rahman, a former CIA analyst, pleaded guilty to retaining and transmitting top secret national defense information to people who were not entitled to receive it, before the information then appeared on social media in October 2024.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025
As a veteran warrior with a top secret nuclear clearance and the U.S. Army’s elite Machine Gun Sharpshooter Badge, this explanation wounds me.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
This recipe includes a top secret recipe for the best ragout ever.
—Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for top secret
ArsTechnica, 2 June 2025
What To Know In mid-January, Asif Rahman, a former CIA analyst, pleaded guilty to retaining and transmitting top secret national defense information to people who were not entitled to receive it, before the information then appeared on social media in October 2024.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025
As a veteran warrior with a top secret nuclear clearance and the U.S. Army’s elite Machine Gun Sharpshooter Badge, this explanation wounds me.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
This recipe includes a top secret recipe for the best ragout ever.
—Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for top secret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for top secret
Adjective
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Instead of attempting to gain public trust through transparency, Musk’s company is currently pressing federal regulators to bury its robotaxi safety record, claiming the data must remain confidential for business reasons.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
20 July 2025
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State police also launched an internal probe into the lead homicide detective, Michael Proctor, who was fired for sharing confidential information with civilians outside of law enforcement and drinking on the job.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Sign-and-trades could open up additional possibilities, although base-year-compensation rules would complicate that for any restricted free agents who are eyeing a significant raise.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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The six agents had been placed on restricted duty after the rally while the agency conducted a lengthy internal review.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor: [email protected].—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
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Editor’s Note: This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Intended as a joke, the post invited users to band together and raid Area 51 — a highly classified United States Air Force facility in Nevada — to uncover extraterrestrial life, long rumored to be hidden there.—
Lizzie Hyman,
People.com,
2 July 2025
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On June 24, the administration canceled a classified intelligence briefing to members of Congress, leading to frustration among those with questions about White House claims.—
Joshua Rovner,
The Conversation,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Spelman will be cremated in a private ceremony Thursday, his family said.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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The works on display once formed the largest private collection in the country, but now belong to the National Gallery of Iceland.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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At first, users had to type to do things with files and programs, using esoteric commands to navigate up and down the directory structures that contained them.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
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After Congress reversed course on accountability in 2015, results for everyone got worse, even as progressive jurisdictions started adopting increasingly esoteric equity strategies.—
Matthew Yglesias,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Top secret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/top%20secret. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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