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secret

secret

375 3.9
A thing people do not understand yet
  • noun
  • /ˈsiːkrɪt/
translation icon : misterio
  • What is it that you don't understand about needing to keep this a secret?
  • unlock the secrets
  • secrets of the universe
  • uncover the secrets

You don't get access to universal secrets and ancient truths.

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Examples

  • It's a fundamental choice that underlies the secret to self-control.

  • She always wondered what the secret was behind his remarkable talent for music.

  • I know that the secret to success is not getting it right.

  • Can you keep a secret?

  • This, this is the secret to my happiness.

  • For me, the secret is there's not really one thing.

  • A book that contains the most highly guarded secrets of the United States of America.

  • And this fort has other secrets, including a tunnel system which culminates in a secret exit.

  • The scientist revealed a fascinating secret about how the universe began.

  • Many ancient cultures believed that the pyramids held a secret to eternal life.

Synonyms

mystery
vssecret
660 4.7

Something that is hard to understand or explain

is more specifically baffling and not easily discovered
unknown
vssecret
41 6.1

Something you do not know or cannot identify, for example a variable in math

is specifically baffling and often hard to discover or explain
enigma
vssecret
33 8.1

A person or thing that is mysterious and hard to understand

is used when the cause is baffling and hidden from view
arcanum
vssecret
  • Literature
1 9.9

A secret piece of knowledge known by only a few people

is about baffling facts not about special knowledge held by few
closed book
vssecret
  • Informal
1 7.4

Something that is hard to understand or know much about

is more about a baffling fact or process, not a private person
riddle wrapped in an enigma
vssecret
  • Informal
1 9.7

Something or someone that is very mysterious and hard to understand

is more about baffling facts that cannot be easily discovered
8.9

A thing that people cannot understand or explain

is hard to discover rather than absolutely impossible to understand

Antonyms

1.0

A statement that makes something clear or helps someone understand

30 2.7

How easy it is to see through something like clean water

Idioms

56 2.5

In a way other people do not know

A helpful idea or tool kept secret to use when needed

Compounds

381 3.4

A United States government group that protects the president and vice president and investigates fake money

top-secret
  • Formal
65 5.9

Information that only a very small number of people are allowed to know

top secret
  • Formal
55 4.2

Information that the government keeps private for security reasons

27 3.4

A person who gathers hidden information for a government about enemies

27 6.6

A group that works for the government in secret to watch and punish people who oppose it

A group whose members keep their identity and activities hidden from others

A private job done secretly to gather information

trade secret
  • Specialized
15 3.9

Secret method or recipe a business keeps to stay ahead of other companies

A hidden thing added to food or an idea that makes it better

13 4.3

A plan people keep secret to do something wrong

11 6.5

Information a government keeps secret because it affects the country's safety

People vote privately so no one knows their choice

A place or thing only a few people know about that is especially good

open secret
  • Informal
6 4.0

Something people try to hide but many already know

A private hand gesture used by a group to show membership or friendship

3 5.2

A set of words, letters or signs used to hide a message

3 7.4

Very private and known by only a few people

A government group that protects the US president, vice president, their families, visiting leaders, and stops people making fake money

2 3.4

A fact many people know although others try to keep it hidden

secret code
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A set of numbers or letters used to unlock an account

secret writing
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A way of writing that uses codes so only certain people can read it

1 7.7

A very private piece of information kept from most people

A United States government agency that protects the president, other top officials, and investigates money crimes

secret handshake
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A short message exchange that proves identity and creates keys for secure communication

A British government group that gathers secret information overseas and protects Britain from foreign spies

An armed group that attacked to force Turkey to admit the Armenian Genocide, pay money, and give land to Armenia

A place or fact known only by people who live nearby

A silent permission for someone to do something wrong

A list of ingredients and steps that people keep secret to make a food unique

How Mysterious

secret
375 3.9
enigma
33 8.1
mystery
660 4.7

Surface Forms

secret singular
secrets plural

Etymology

The word secret comes from Latin se- 'apart' and a root meaning 'to separate', similar to separate, so a secret can be something kept 'apart' from our knowledge. That's why we call an unknown fact a 'secret' when it puzzles or escapes ordinary explanation.