surreptitious
7
8.5
- adjective
- /ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəs/
- The surreptitious meeting between the rival companies was held in a secluded location.
Loading YouTube…
Watch on YouTubeI think the brilliance of Bitcoin has been how surreptitious it has been.
- I think the brilliance of Bitcoin has been how surreptitious it has been.
- All the other things you mentioned are instances of covert, surreptitious corruption and grift.
Examples
-
I check for security guards and take another surreptitious bite of sandwich: cheese, adjika, and cucumber.
Blog text (24) -
Following Jared, guarded by the sailors, we stole away from the quay, surreptitious as though we had started the fire.
Fiction book (1992) -
Then he came back, and very obviously, but trying to be surreptitious, he carried wet toilet paper over to another boy.
Fiction book (1992) -
Wind fans the blond hair of one young man as he takes a surreptitious photo of his bride.
Fiction book (1996) -
Emma took a quick, surreptitious look down at her bikini top.
Fiction book (1990) -
We attacked the walls between the cells, weakened by months of surreptitious drilling.
Fiction book (2002) -
Today, trade tensions are growing and protectionism is rearing its ugly head via surreptitious currency wars.
Blog text (34) -
The most elaborate version of this argument concerns Guadeloupeans' surreptitious use of Haitian Vodoun healing.
Academic text (2003) -
She took a surreptitious glance at her watch to check the time without being noticed.
-
He wrote a surreptitious note to his friend, ensuring that no one else could see it.
Synonyms
∞
2.0
Hidden so other people do not know about it
801
1.1
A thing that is not easily seen or found
374
6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
136
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
129
6.8
Done secretly to avoid being seen or known
111
4.4
Acting in a secret way to avoid being noticed or to get an advantage
106
5.8
Careful about what you say and do to avoid upsetting people or drawing attention
95
3.7
Hidden so people cannot see it
65
4.2
Hidden so people do not know the true identity or purpose
40
6.2
Partly hidden or not said clearly
40
8.2
Kept secret because it is illegal or not allowed
26
7.5
People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed
19
6.3
Acting quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
15
7.5
Done secretly to hide payments and avoid the law
13
7.5
To act quietly and secretly to avoid being seen
9
8.9
Being secret and mysterious like spy stories
8
7.2
Kept secret from the public, often about meetings or plans
7
6.3
A secret feeling or thought you do not tell others
1
7.5
People in power keep it secret to hide a problem
1
9.9
Being hidden and not openly shown, like secret feelings or plans
Done in a secret way to hide plans
A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts
Antonyms
How Secret
Surface Forms
Etymology
Surreptitious comes from Latin parts sub- 'under' and rapere 'to take', giving the idea of taking something 'under' someone's notice as if stealing quietly, and that's why surreptitious means done in a secret or hidden way.