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shinobi

shinobi

1 9.9
A secret agent from old Japan who spies and moves in silence
  • noun
  • /ʃɪˈnoʊbi/
translation icon : shinobi
  • The village relied on the shinobi to carry out secret missions and gather vital information without being seen.
  • shinobi brethren

Examples

  • October 16th, 2012 Shinobi

    Blog text (32)
  • WHERE'S SHINOBI?

  • With Ian Watkins looking all smart in a fancy suit, he was ready for business, and they brought us tracks across their back catalogue such as 'Can't Catch Tomorrow,' 'Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja,' and 'We Bring An Arsenal,' and one very special rarity, 'Darkest Blue,' as voted for by the public in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

    Blog text (26)
  • The shinobi swiftly moved through the shadows, silently gathering intelligence on the enemy's plans.

  • As a skilled shinobi, she was trained in the art of stealth and could infiltrate enemy territories unnoticed.

Synonyms

ninja
vsshinobi
94 6.5

A person trained to move, spy, and fight quietly for secret missions

is the narrower historical term for an actual covert agent

How Stealthy

assassin
  • NSFW
230 6.3
shinobi
1 9.9
spy
623 2.9
agent
  • Formal
2.8
scout
152 3.2
soldier
1.1

Surface Forms

shinobi singular
shinobis plural

Etymology

Shinobi comes from the Japanese verb shinobu, which means 'to hide' or 'to endure'. So a shinobi was a person who moved quietly and worked in secret, which is why the word refers to the stealthy ninja figure you know.